Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile will on Saturday join the Nazareth Baptist Church known as Bethlehema LamaNazaretha akwa Shembe at the Holy Temple of Ntabazwe in Platenberg near Harrismith in the Free State Province The Deputy President will be a Special Guest of His Holiness Inkosi Unyazi LweZulu Deputy President Mashatile is tasked by the President to lead social cohesion and nation-building initiatives in the country including fostering social compacts with Faith-based communities Details of the visit are as follows:Date: Saturday 07 September 2024Time: 08h30 (media to arrive 08h00)Venue: Ntabazwe/Bethlehem Holy Temple Media wishing to cover the visit is advised of the strict dress code applied by the church: Headdresses and covering of shoulders for females; no pants/trousers for females; covering of shoulders for males and strictly no shoes for everyone at the holy mountain Members of the media wishing to cover the visit requested to submit their full details to Mr Bongani Majola on 082 339 1993 Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President on 066 195 8840 AVBOB celebrates a milestone by rewarding its members on a large scale Inclement weather has led to road closures in some parts of KwaZulu-Natal.  JOHANNESBURG - Inclement weather has led to road closures in some parts of KwaZulu-Natal.  The N3 Toll Route between Estcourt and Harrismith in the Free State has been affected by snowfall.  WATCH | Chilly weekend for most parts of SA Warnings of severe weather have been issued for Saturday That includes disruptive snowfalls and cold to cold and wet conditions in the Eastern Cape Large parts of the country will experience a substantial drop in temperatures and heavy rain N3 Toll Concession's Thania Dhoogra shares more details in the video above Home | South Africa Free State Police have arrested a 42-year-old man who was seen with a banner trying to stop other truck drivers on the N3 road near Harrismith Police say they have been monitoring the situation following threats by members of the All Truck Drivers Forum and Allied South Africa (ATDF-ASA) of a nationwide strike this week. According to the Provincial Police Spokesperson Brigadier, Motantsi Makhele, a joint operation was staged to monitor the possible truck shutdown on both N3 and N5, with law enforcement officials patrolling both national roads throughout the weekend. Makhele says, “On Monday, 11 November 2024, at Harrismith truck stop, police managed to redirect truck drivers whose trucks seemed to have blocked the entrance into the parking area.” “On the N3 towards Van Reenen, one male person 42-year-old was seen with a banner trying to stop other truckers, but police intervened and arrested him. The police are still monitoring the situation thus far without any incidents.” He adds, “We have beefed up our deployments and would like to urge all drivers to exercise caution and adhere to traffic regulations to help maintain road safety and prevent further disruptions.” Maki Molapo20 September 2024 | 11:58N3 toll route closed between Ladysmith and Harrismith following a collision between two trucksMotorists travelling on the route are advised to avoid the area.TrucksPicture: @SAPoliceService/X JOHANNESBURG - The N3 toll route is currently closed to traffic near Van Reenen Town between Ladysmith and Harrismith. This followed a collision between two trucks, resulting in a spill. Motorists travelling on the route are advised to avoid the area. The concession's COO, Thania Dhoogra, said there was no indication as to when the road would be fully reopened to traffic. "Emergency services team are on scene attending to the clean up and recovery operations. All traffic is currently stacked on the scene and road users are advised to delay travel to the area until further notice. There is currently a backlog for traffic and congestion in the vicinity of the crash." Sections The Free State Education Department has expressed shock at an incident in which a 13-year-old learner committed suicide Mbali Mlaba was a grade seven learner at the Vulindlela Primary School in Harrismith The incident comes after a fellow learner allegedly bullied her The department says it has provided psychosocial support to learners and educators Mbali’s mother found a note detailing the reasons behind her daughter’s extreme decision It is alleged that she was repeatedly bullied by a classmate who accused her of cheating during a class test The learner had expressed fear of her classmate who had allegedly assaulted and bullied her in the previous term The little girl had requested to be transferred to another school VIDEO | Spotlight on bullying in schools:  A general view of heavy snowfall on a road to Harrismith from Sterkfontein dam on September 21 KWAZULU-NATAL - Mop-up operations continues on the N3 as the route between Johannesburg and Durban reopens It was closed between the Tugela Plaza and Harrismith after a severe snowstorm Thousands were trapped in their vehicles for hours READ: KZN Weather | Death toll increases to two, govt urges travellers to delay trips as eNCA’s Zanele Buthelezi reports in the video below some braved the blizzard to enjoy the snow UD Trucks Southern Africa (UDTSA) has announced a new partnership agreement with GC Truck Centre establishing them as the official service dealer in Harrismith in the Free State This strategic partnership reaffirms our commitment to ensuring that our customers have ready access to reliable and efficient service support It promises to bring significant benefits to the Harrismith region addressing various challenges faced by the transport industry in this critical area Managing Director of UD Trucks Southern Africa expressed his excitement about the new partnership we are dedicated to delivering exceptional service and support to our customers Partnering with GC Truck Centre in Harrismith aligns perfectly with our mission to ensure that our customers are always within reach for their service requirements ultimately contributing to a better life for all involved in the transport industry.” shares UDTSA’s commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction UDTSA aims to provide comprehensive service solutions to valued customers in the Harrismith region ensuring minimal downtime and maximum operational efficiency Harrismith is at a crucial crossroads in the Free State connecting to KwaZulu-Natal The company is well equipped to address these challenges through access to skilled mechanics and comprehensive knowledge to tackle any repair requirements The workshops are designed for transport companies featuring sleeping facilities and a takeaway shop for drivers and mechanics the breakdown vehicles and workshops are fully equipped and ready to perform repairs anywhere ensuring minimal downtime for transport companies GC Truck Centre’s presence in Harrismith brings many benefits creating job opportunities and contributing to the local economy The company promotes strong work ethics and a wellness programme for employees by highlighting Harrismith through an agreement with a renowned brand GC Truck Centre boosts local support and trust in UD Trucks “The service-only dealership in Harrismith represents a significant step forward in our service strategy We are confident that GC Truck Centre’s industry expertise will play a key role in upholding our high standards of service excellence,” says Marle Visagie Retail Development General Manager of UD Trucks Southern Africa added that understanding their clients' needs and providing professional service with utmost urgency are key to their success Well-known South African racing driver and competitor at the annual Simola Hillclimb died this weekend when his Lotus left the road Mitsubishi Motors South Africa was presented with the Top Performer award in the After-sales – Customer Experience category at the brand’s recent annual global after-sales business excellence awards ceremony in Thailand The South African new-vehicle market showed its resilience yet again during April this year with an 11.9% increase compared to the same month last year This is notwithstanding the number of public holidays that manifested in long weekends with school holidays in between I always do like seeing other people dance in their cars It's one of the things that makes me happy The transition from a career in the OEM environment to the business at dealership level was like chalk and cheese Audi Centre Sandton was named 2024 Dealer of the Year while Hatfield Motor Group walked away with the coveted 2024 Dealer Group of the Year prize during Audi South Africa’s annual Vorsprung Awards For a dealership to make an 180-degree U-turn within two years and then went on to win the overall Volkswagen Dealer of the Year award This dealer-focussed innovation is made possible with the support and endorsement of Absa Vehicle and Asset Finance All content copyright of Panthera Media Pty Ltd 2020 We use cookies to personalise content and ads and to analyse our traffic and improve our service You consent to cookies if you continue to use our website JOHANNESBURG - More severe weather has been forecast for parts of KZN It's coming hot on the heels of the snowstorm that left thousands stranded on the N3 last weekend WATCH | Weather Alert | Parts of the N3 remain closed The aftermath of that event is still being assessed but it's being reported that some farmers lost livestock in parts of QwaQwa and Harrismith and other areas near the N3 highway eNCA reporter Siphamandla Goge has more details HARRISMITH - Although progress has been made That's the latest update from Toll Concession COO Bad weather has led to road closures in some parts of KwaZulu-Natal WATCH | Weather Alert | Motorists stranded on N3 The stretch between Harrismith in the Free State and Escourt in KZN "I'm happy to say that there is progress being made given that the dangerous driving conditions are still continuing and the severe weather is still affecting large parts of the N3 toll route so unfortunately the status quo is remaining that the N3 is closed.. very much to the party to assist with reaching stranded road users and clearing the roadway as quickly but as safely as possible." KZN - Inclement weather has led to road closures in some parts of KwaZulu-Natal.  READ: Discussion | Weather Alert | Relief efforts for those stuck in snow  The N3 Toll Route between Estcourt and Harrismith in the Free State has been affected by snowfall 22 September 2024 – The N3 Toll Route remains closed to incoming traffic between Tugela Plaza in KwaZulu-Natal and Harrismith in the Free State the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) and its concessionaire All lanes are obstructed along a section of the route from the town of Van Reenen towards the Swinburne/Montrose junction This obstruction is caused by a large number of heavy- and light motor vehicles that are gridlocked across all four lanes These vehicles — some of which have been abandoned by their drivers — have to be moved to allow the graders to continue to work It remains a challenging task which is being complicated and slowed down by road users disregarding safety instructions Reports are being received of a 30 km backlog of traffic attempting to make their way from Harrismith towards Van Reenen Incoming traffic cannot be accommodated on Van Reenen’s Pass at this time and these vehicles are hampering rescue and recovery operations Trucks are being stacked on Van Reenen’s Pass while the recovery operation proceeds light motor vehicles are gradually being cleared in a southbound direction from the area under the careful escort of traffic officials Communication services in the area are extremely limited with /little or no cellphone reception search and rescue operators and relief agencies are on scene to provide assistance to stranded road users “Please avoid travel between Tugela Plaza and Harrismith until further notice The recovery and cleanup operation is expected to continue throughout the day,” said Vusi Mona SANRAL General Manager for Communications and Marketing Kindly remain patient and comply with all safety instructions to best support stranded road users and the authorities as they continue their tireless efforts to restore mobility follow @N3Route on X or call the 24/7 N3 Helpline on 0800 63 43 57 to report problems or request emergency assistance Also follow updates from SANRAL via X and Facebook A tragic accident on the N3 Highway heading towards Harrismith has claimed the lives of five people including four passengers from a light vehicle and the driver of a truck Authorities are investigating the cause of the collision The fatal accident involved a light vehicle and a truck According to the Free State Provincial EMS Manager four passengers from the light vehicle and the truck driver lost their lives in the collision One passenger from the light vehicle survived the crash The survivor was treated on-site and later transported to a nearby medical facility for further observation Emergency services were dispatched to the scene shortly after the collision Recovery units have been working tirelessly to clear the wreckage but the scene remains active as investigations continue The cause of the accident is still under investigation.” The accident has caused significant traffic delays with the N3 Highway heading towards Harrismith backed up for over six hours Authorities have urged motorists to exercise patience and use alternative routes if possible The exact cause of the collision remains unclear at this stage Investigators are working to determine the sequence of events leading up to the crash and driver behaviour are among the factors being considered in the ongoing investigation The N3 Highway is one of South Africa’s busiest routes frequently used by both commercial and private vehicles Accidents along this route highlight the importance of road safety measures Authorities have reiterated the need for motorists to remain vigilant and ensure that vehicles are roadworthy before embarking on long journeys 🔴Central News Weekly Edition 086🔴 Download the Latest Edition | Top Story: “Hung Council Persists in Thabazimbi as ANC Falls Short of Majority in By-Elections” https://www.magzter.com/ZA/Central-News-Pty-Ltd/Central-News/Newspaper/All-Issues Central News also offers Sponsored Editorial Content To place your advert on our platforms (Print Newspaper or Digital Platforms) : Please email : sales@centralnews.co.za For Business Related:business@centralnews.co.za Newsroom:Send your Stories / Media Statements To: newsroom@centralnews.co.za Office Administrator:admin@centralnews.co.za Social Media Platforms (@centralnewsza) : Linkedin and website in this browser for the next time I comment You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed Five people have lost their lives in an accident involving a light vehicle and a truck on the N3 Highway heading to Harrismith Four passengers from the light vehicle and the driver of the truck were declared dead on the scene Sipho Towa says recovery units are still on the scene Towa says the cause of the accident is still not clear Traffic has been backed up for about six hours as a result of the accident N3 Highway to Harrismith | Five killed in F State accident – Sipho Towa HARRISMITH - The uMngeni Municipal emergency centre says it's tried its best to assist motorists stuck in snow on the N3 Highway The centre has thanked people who've assisted with blankets and hot meals for those caught in the freezing temperatures since Friday WATCH: Discussion | Weather Alert | Relief efforts for those stuck in snow Three families managed to reach the centre The snowfall brought the N3 to a standstill and led to the closure of other roads in KwaZulu-Natal after being exposed to severe cold overnight meeting with cabinet to affect a proper response to the current disaster Roland Robertson from the Midlands EMS discussed this with eNCA.  MIDLANDS - Two people have lost their lives after being trapped in snow on the N3 in the KZN Midlands vehicles are being cleared from Van Reenen's Pass Stranded road users are being escorted out on the southbound lanes towards KZN Government is still urging all travellers to delay trips on various stretches of the N3 between the Tugela Plaza and Harrismith READ: Snow in South Africa | Two people have died from hypothermia The  N11 route between Ladysmith and  Volksrust is experiencing misty conditions snow is melting on the N5 from Bethlehem to Harrismith and the R57 from Kestell to the R714 junction Boesmansnek and Monontsha remain closed to travellers Motorists are being advised to use the Ficksburg Makhaleng or Maseru ports as an alternative HARRISMITH - Extreme weather has hit parts of South Africa.  KZN and the Eastern Cape are the hardest hit with one death being confirmed on Saturday evening WATCH | Chilly weekend for most parts of SA Inclement weather has led to road closures in some parts of KwaZulu-Natal N3 Toll Concession's Thania Dhoogra provided an update on closures on the N3 between Johannesburg and Durban KwaZulu-Natal’s roadways have been severely impacted by heavy snowfall and continuous rainfall including the N3 between Harrismith and the Tugela Toll The province’s Disaster Management teams are working around the clock to monitor conditions and offer assistance to those affected including the R617 between Kokstad and Underberg with additional routes such as the N2 Ingeli and N3 Mooi-River under close observation The sudden and intense weather changes have prompted authorities to issue multiple warnings urging residents and motorists to delay travel until conditions improve the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Disaster Management Centre has highlighted the dangers of these conditions and emphasized the importance of safety precautions The severe weather began earlier this week it has created havoc across several regions in KwaZulu-Natal has transformed roads into hazardous stretches of black ice and deep snow and R74 (between Harrismith and Bergville) have been rendered impassable with authorities forced to implement immediate closures for public safety This disruption is not limited to the major roads Local routes have also been significantly affected with reports from Arrive Alive confirming the closure of other strategic routes like the R103 This widespread impact has left many residents and businesses stranded further hampering travel and logistics across the province In a statement issued on the morning of September 20th KwaZulu-Natal Disaster Management teams confirmed that their teams were deployed to monitor the snow-affected areas and assist any stranded motorists “We are urging residents and travellers to postpone all non-essential journeys especially in areas where snow and rain have caused road closures Our priority is ensuring the safety of all road users,” said a disaster management official Arrive Alive has issued updated alerts on their website confirming further closures and delays throughout the province Their urgent traffic update highlights that snowfall and rain have created hazardous conditions across multiple roads leading to slow traffic and stranded motorists with drivers urged not to attempt alternate routes the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Disaster Management Centre has provided essential safety tips for those already caught in the snow or unable to avoid travel: In a concerted effort to mitigate the risks posed by the current conditions the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Disaster Management Centre has coordinated multi-sectoral interventions including road-clearing efforts and relief assistance These efforts focus on reaching stranded motorists and ensuring that key roads are cleared as soon as possible to restore access Authorities are working with local municipalities to assess and facilitate the clearing of roadways has been deployed to help clear major thoroughfares but progress remains slow due to the intensity of the weather Motorists are urged to heed all warnings issued by the provincial government and avoid unnecessary travel emergency numbers have been provided for assistance: Disaster Management officials reiterated that these conditions are expected to persist through September 21st with snow continuing to fall in the province’s higher-altitude regions especially via major routes such as the N3 and R617 is expected to remain severely disrupted until weather conditions improve An Arrive Alive traffic update further outlined the severity of the situation and rain have forced the closure of multiple roads Motorists have been strongly advised not to use alternative routes The roads have become slippery due to black ice and visibility has been reduced significantly Efforts to clear the roads and reach stranded motorists are ongoing but officials are urging extreme caution for those on the roads Central News Weekly Edition 073 | Download the latest weekly edition| Top Story: “R180,000 in Prizes at Edgar Legoale Festive Soccer Tournament 2024” Central News also offers Sponsored Editorial Content,  Podcasts  To place your advert on our platforms (Print Newspaper or Digital Platforms) : Please email : sales@centralnews.co.za Send your Stories / Media Statements To: newsroom@centralnews.co.za Social Media Platforms (@centralnewsza) : Linkedin, Facebook, Tiktok, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube #centralnewsza #freestate #sports #soccer #edgarlegoalefestive2024  HARRISMITH - One person has died after being exposed to severe cold overnight KZN leaders have been meeting to come up with a response to the weather-related events READ: Snow in South Africa | N3 traffic update The South African National Defence Force has been deployed to help Motorists have been urged to cancel their trips until conditions improve Thulasizwe Buthelezi discussed the interventions with eNCA.  KZN - It's been an unprecedented weekend of bad weather in KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State Heavy snowfall brought travel between the two provinces to a halt with motorists unable to continue to their destinations READ: WATCH | Weather Alert | Parts of the N3 remain closed  The stretch of the N3 between Harrismith and Estcourt had to be closed because of a thick blanket of snow that fell So what is the latest on the road conditions there READ: WATCH | Weather Alert | One person died while stuck in a taxi on N3 KZN Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma spoke to eNCA.  Motorists are being urged to stay at home and avoid using the N3 from KwaZulu-Natal to Gauteng as relief and rescue efforts are meted out to those entrapped in the snow in the Midlands Hundreds of commuters are trapped in their vehicles after heavy snow fell over areas around Van Reenen’s pass from late last night The N3 Toll Concession says graders are in the process of removing the snow Spokesperson Thania Dhoogra says the N3 remains closed “It’s not just the N3 that’s affected the entirety of the area and all arterial roads around there are being affected with many people being stranded It is putting emergency services under extreme stress and strain right now as they’re trying to get to everyone and they are trying to keep the roadway open We are trying to get mobility restored as quickly as possible but unfortunately We are in close contact with the weather services who are keeping us updated about what’s going on and our own people on the ground but it is a really difficult situation right now.” Scores of motorists travelling along the N3 last night had to seek refuge at petrol stations in Harrismith as a result of the freeway closure together with her husband and three children were en route from Johannesburg to the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal yesterday afternoon when they were forced to halt their journey due to the inclement weather “We left Joburg yesterday around half past three and towards Harrismith last night it started snowing very heavily that you can’t even see the lines on the road and you put the bright’s on and it just bounces back we drove very slowly into Harrismith at the garage three kids and two adults and we made our little nest and we tried to sleep through the night.” KwaZulu-Natal residents warned of severe weather conditions:  The Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality has cautioned road users and the community around the eastern Free State to be aware of the snowfall that is happening in Qwaqwa Disaster Management Coordinator Sthembiso Mthombeni says there are many major roads that are not accessible in the area and many people are trapped in those roads and R712 from Bethlehem to Harrismith via Qwaqwa Mthombeni has requested motorists who want to use roads in the area to delay their trips until the roads are cleared there are many cars that are trapped here within these roads and we are trying our level best to rescue all these affected people there are tourists who were going to Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge We humbly request every person to remain calm and should remain in the house Should anything happen don’t hesitate to call the police – they communicate with us disaster management (and) we will be able to see what to do.” Three ports of entry closed due to heavy snowfall: Home | Politics Thirty years into democracy, residents of Maluti A Phofung municipality in the Free State continue to be on the receiving end of poor services due to political instability the municipality which incorporates Qwaqwa has been struggling with inconsistent water and electricity supply Government admits that political instability has worsened the situation “I walk a long distance to fetch water at a school as a result I got injured in the process,” laments one it’s a struggle to go there because I am old.” The provincial government admits it has failed residents when it comes to water supply It says it is working on improving the water infrastructure For more than ten years residents have been fighting for the provision of water in the area despite national government committing billions of rands in 2019 to fix the infrastructure Another R1-billion has been committed to the municipality by the provincial government Cooperative governance MEC Saki Mokoena elaborates “We can safely say that there is an investment of about a billion for Maluti A Phofung from all levels of government to stabilise the road network We should be expecting to reach better levels in the next couple of weeks or months in terms of two critical issues – water and electricity.” some political parties are threatening to bring a motion of no confidence against the coalition-led municipality’s speaker Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) councillor Chicco Mkhwanazi explains “There is nothing that is happening in this municipality the community is still struggling about everything so we are not happy at all and we are busy now engaging our leadership to put the motion of no confidence against all this troika because they are doing nothing.” The Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) says assistance is being provided to motorists stranded along the N3 Harrismith in the Free State due to heavy snowfall The N3 between Harrismith and Tugela Toll as well as R617 between Kokstad and Underberg in KwaZulu-Natal have been closed due to severe weather conditions The Department of Co-operative Governance in the province says the N2 Ingeli and N3 near Mooi River are being closely monitored “The Department of Transport and the RTI would like to advise the road users about the condition of the road in the province due to the bad weather as we are facing these weather conditions So part of the province are experiencing a heavy rainfall We therefore advise road users to postpone their trips planned this weekend.” Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) has despatched a team of Paramedics & Reaction Officers in 4×4 Rescue Vehicles to assist motorists stranded on the N3 in Harrismith – Free State. #N3TollRoute pic.twitter.com/elojql1Su2 — Road Traffic Management Corporation (@TrafficRTMC) September 21, 2024 Traffic Advisory ‼️🚨🚨 https://t.co/QzsGXTdINL — Road Traffic Management Corporation (@TrafficRTMC) September 21, 2024