Radio host Penny Ntuli, Maskandi artist Fihliskhwele Magubane, and Kasie FM editor Lungani Mhlongo were among many stranded motorists on the N3 freeway due to heavy snowfall, which left them stuck on the road overnight. The severe weather conditions caused significant disruptions, turning what should have been routine journeys into a nightmare for hundreds of people.
Motorists Stranded Amid Heavy Snowfall
The three media personalities were traveling on the N3 when they found themselves trapped in gridlock caused by a snowstorm. Fihliskhwele Magubane was on his way to Durban for a podcast interview when he became one of the many who were stranded since Friday afternoon. “I’ve been stuck on the road since yesterday afternoon until today, Saturday morning. We can’t move; we’re stuck in the middle of the road. I don’t even know when we’ll be able to move because there’s so much traffic,” he shared.
Fihliskhwele expressed his anxiety and frustration at being caught in such an unexpected situation. “I always see these things in movies and never thought I’d experience them. The truth is, I’m panicking, I’m stressed, starving, and anxious,” he added.
### Penny Ntuli’s Frustration and Plea for Help
At the time of writing, Jozi FM’s Penny Ntuli was still stuck on the road, providing regular updates on her social media. According to Ntuli, she had been stuck since 17:30 on Friday, and her frustration was palpable in her posts. In a fiery message on Facebook, she called out Arrive Alive for their perceived lack of response to the dire situation on the N3.
“Arrive Alive is busy posting what’s going on on the N3. How about you stop posting and help people? Where are the helicopters to pick up people? You’re well aware that rain is coming, and people will be washed away if not drown in ice, like it has already happened in Mooi River,” she wrote.
Ntuli also highlighted the dangerous conditions faced by vulnerable groups among the stranded motorists. “There are cars here with kids. Older people traveling in cars with no heaters, they’ve been freezing for the past 16 hours. Where are the resources? Why do we pay for tollgates if you won’t issue out help on the same roads that citizens pay for? Use that small change to hire out choppers to clear your roads.”
Her post further revealed the plight of a pregnant woman and elderly people who were stuck without essential medication. “If journalists can travel in choppers to do coverage of what’s going on, can’t you issue out choppers to fetch people? But no, you’re busy with content. Come on, I pray we don’t wake up to find dead bodies inside the cars. It’s freezing cold between 0-1 degrees,” she added in her desperate plea for assistance.
### Arrive Alive Responds
In response to the mounting criticism, Arrive Alive urged motorists to remain patient. They assured the public that disaster management teams were working tirelessly to reach crash scenes and emergency incidents while assisting stranded road users. “Your patience and compliance are required to help emergency services teams work as quickly and effectively as possible,” they stated.
As the situation on the N3 unfolded, many hoped for a swift resolution to prevent further suffering and potential tragedy. For those like Penny Ntuli, the night spent on the freezing freeway will be a stark reminder of the unexpected challenges that can arise from severe weather and the critical need for timely emergency response.