“We were afraid we wouldn’t make it”: Seniors remember 26-hour ordeal in snowstorm on the N3

The group of senior citizens during their holiday in Port Edward. (Supplied by Hazel Harris)

• A group of elderly travellers – the oldest of whom was 90 years old – were stranded on the N3 for 26 hours during a snowstorm.
• They were poorly prepared for the freezing temperatures and fought against the cold and hunger with limited resources.
• When rescue teams arrived, they were able to continue their journey back to Johannesburg.

With frozen knees and nearly broken spirits, a group of 15 seniors clung to their faith and prayed for a miracle while stranded on the N3 in a snowstorm for 26 hours.

The group – the oldest of which was 90-year-old Dorothy Rosenberg – returned 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 travel together.

Heavy snowfall in certain parts of the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal resulted in the closure of the N3 highway in both directions between Harrismith in the Free State and Tugela Plaza in KwaZulu-Natal.

Thulasizwe Buthelezi, MEC of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cogta, said on Sunday that 1,823 vehicles were stuck between Van Reenen's Pass and Mooi River Plaza.

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The seniors, many of whom had only packed summer clothes for their vacation, were ill-prepared for the freezing temperatures that followed.

“Two or three people had blankets to keep warm. One or two had winter dressing gowns.

“There were three people sitting in the front seat and we had a thin blanket around us trying to cover ourselves. To be honest, we didn't have time to calm down,” Hazel Harris, 70, told News24.

The group's taxi in which they were travelling was covered in snow. (Supplied by Hazel Harris)

Delivered

Despite numerous attempts to contact the authorities for help and provide them with their live location, no immediate help arrived.

“My friend and I broke down. We had to control ourselves because of the others.

“I was sitting right next to the door and my knees were frozen,” Harris said.

As the hours went by, they had to fend for themselves and fight against cold and hunger with limited resources.

Scott and Johnny, the drivers, braved the cold and walked three to four kilometers in search of food.

“All they could find was a soft drink and Toppers cookies, which had been our only food since Friday morning.

“We wanted to stop in Montrose, but unfortunately we didn’t make it,” she said.

Harris said the situation had become increasingly serious, especially for the oldest passenger, 90-year-old Rosenberg.

“She wasn’t feeling well because she had to go out every hour.”

She said that due to the lack of adequate facilities, they were forced to relieve themselves in front of truck drivers.

“We had to relieve our urges in front of the truck drivers sitting in their trucks. There was no other option but to relieve ourselves,” Harris said.

Dozens of vehicles were stuck in the snow. (Zizi Miya/Supplied)

Delivered

Harris said they found comfort in their faith.

“We were afraid we wouldn't make it, but we called on the Almighty. It occurs to you that this could be your last day.”

She said her prayers were answered when rescue and humanitarian teams dispatched by the KwaZulu-Natal government arrived.

The group continued their journey on Saturday at around 5pm and arrived in Johannesburg at 1.30am on Sunday.

“On the way out we were given food and cold drinks from Gift of the Givers,” Harris added.

“We are very thankful to God for sparing our lives and all the honor and glory be to Him for taking care of us,” she said.