Matatiele in the Eastern Cape has been transformed into a winter wonderland after snowfall blanketed the town, covering streets, rooftops and surrounding areas in white.
The snowfall has brought excitement to residents, particularly children, who have embraced the rare weather conditions as an opportunity for outdoor fun.
Residents say they began anticipating snow after rain fell on Sunday night, followed by an unusual calm and a noticeable change in the weather.
While children have welcomed the snowfall, the conditions have disrupted schooling, with pupils enjoying another day away from the classroom on Tuesday. Schools could remain closed for longer depending on how the weather develops.
Local spaza shops have remained open to assist residents who were caught off guard by the snowy conditions.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Cape Transport Department says most mountain passes that were closed due to the adverse weather have since been reopened as snowfall begins to ease in parts of the province.
However, authorities are warning motorists that road conditions remain hazardous, with several routes still wet and slippery.
Fog and drizzle have also been reported on Penhoek Pass along the N6 between Komani and James Calata, resulting in poor visibility.
Eastern Cape Transport Department spokesperson Unathi Binqose says the reopening of the roads is a positive development following Monday's closures, which affected traffic on major routes including the N9 and N6.
“Much welcome developments for us, after yesterday road closures which affected the flow of traffic on some of our major roads including the N9 and the N6. But we know that we are not out of the woods yet because conditions remain wet and slippery in those areas and with the temperature still very low things can still change at any moment.”
Binqose has urged motorists to exercise extreme caution when travelling through mountain passes.
The warnings come as government continues to urge the public to remain vigilant amid severe winter weather affecting several parts of the country.
Government spokesperson William Baloyi says weather and road conditions can change rapidly, meaning routes that are currently open could be closed if conditions deteriorate.
He says roads that were previously closed may also be reopened once they have been assessed and cleared by the relevant authorities.
The public has been urged to rely on official updates from the South African Weather Service, provincial traffic authorities, road agencies, disaster management structures and emergency services for the latest information.
Motorists are also advised to avoid unnecessary travel in areas affected by snow, fog and icy conditions and to exercise particular caution when using mountain passes.