The group of seniors during their holiday in Port Edward. (Supplied/Hazel Harris)
- A group of elderly travellers – the oldest of whom was 90-years-old – was stranded for 26 hours during a snowstorm on the N3.
- Ill-prepared for the freezing temperatures, they battled the cold and their hunger with limited resources.
- They were able to continue their journey back to Johannesburg when rescue teams arrived.
With their knees frozen and spirits almost broken, a group of 15 senior citizens clung to their faith and prayed for a miracle while they were stranded on the N3 for 26 hours amid a snowstorm.
The group – the eldest of whom was 90-year-old Dorothy Rosenberg – was returning to Johannesburg in a minibus taxi on Friday after their holiday in Port Edward.
They are members of a “sister group” of friends who regularly go away together.
Heavy snowfall in certain parts of the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal led to the closure of the N3 highway in both directions, between Harrismith in the Free State and the Tugela Plaza in KwaZulu-Natal.
KwaZulu-Natal Cogta MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi said on Sunday that at some point, 1 823 vehicles were stuck between Van Reenen’s Pass and Mooi River Plaza.
READ | Road to ruins: Now what? Buffalo City spent R430m fixing pothole-riddled road it doesn’t own
The senior citizens, many of whom had packed only summer clothing for their holiday, were ill-prepared for the freezing temperatures that followed.
“Two or three people had blankets to warm themselves. One or two had winter dressing gowns.
“Three people were sitting in the front seat with a thin blanket that we tried to cover ourselves with. To tell you the truth, there was no time to be calm,” 70-year-old Hazel Harris told News24.
The group’s taxi that they were travelling in was covered in snow. (Supplied/Hazel Harris)
Supplied
Despite numerous attempts to contact the authorities for help and share their live pin location, no immediate assistance arrived.
“My friend and I broke down. We had to contain ourselves because of the others.
“I was sitting right next to the door, so my knees were frozen,” Harris said.
As the hours passed, they had to fend for themselves, battling the cold and hunger with limited resources.
Scott and Johnny, the drivers, braved the cold and walked three to four kilometres in search of food.
“All they could find was a cooldrink and Toppers biscuits, which became our sole sustenance since Friday morning.
“We were going to stop at Montrose, but unfortunately, didn’t make it,” she said.
Harris said the situation grew increasingly dire, especially for the oldest passenger, 90-year-old Rosenberg.
“She was not so good because she had to go out every hour.”
She said the lack of proper facilities forced them to relieve themselves in front of truck drivers.
“We had to release our needs in front of truck divers sitting in their trucks. There was no other way, but we had to relieve ourselves,” Harris said.
Scores of vehicles were stuck in the snow. (Zizi Miya/Supplied)
Supplied
Harris said that they found solace in their faith.
“We were worried that we wouldn’t make it, but we called on the most high. It comes to your mind that this could be your last day.”
She said their prayers were answered when rescue and humanitarian teams arrived, which the KwaZulu-Natal government had dispatched.
The group continued their journey around 17:00 on Saturday and arrived in Johannesburg at 01:30 on Sunday.
“On our way out, we got food and cooldrinks from Gift of the Givers,” Harris added.
“We are very grateful to God for sparing our lives and giving Him all the glory and honour for caring for us,” she said.
