From a teacher’s unwavering bravery and a friendly motorist neighbour to the sheer joy of a young boy experiencing snowfall for the first time, KZN’s recent snowfall will go down in history as one that sparked humanity and resilience.
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (23 September 2024) – It may be Spring in South Africa, but it definitely had not “sprung” in KZN if this past weekend is anything to go by.
A rare and unexpected snowfall hit the province’s northern region, creating a winter wonderland that many had never experienced before.
While some locals enjoyed nurturing their inner child, others faced the harsh reality of being snowed in, stranded in their homes, cars, and buses, desperate for safety and warmth.
What was truly admirable, though, was how everyday people shone as true heroes in the face of adversity.
Brave teacher and 67 kids stuck in the KZN snow
A video of a local teacher from Qwabi School in Qwa-Qwa tugged at the hearts of netizens when she shared how she had been stuck in a bus with 67 learners for two days going on three.
The group had travelled to Durban for an educational trip on Wednesday and encountered issues on their way back due to the dangerous snow conditions.
Left stranded on the N3 near Van Reenens, the situation worsened as they were without water and food, and the children became cold, distressed and ill.
The video was circulated on social media, and the staff and learners were eventually attended to.
As we breathe a sigh of relief, we cannot help but commend this teacher and her colleagues for their highest level of bravery in keeping the children calm under the most difficult conditions.
Making the best of being stuck in the snow
Durban-born media personality Penny Ntuli was one of the many motorists who were stopped in their tracks and forced to spend a very cold weekend in their vehicles on the N3 due to the blizzard.
Making the most of a very uncomfortable situation, a video shows Penny and her friend spreading friendly vibes as they greeted their “neighbours” parked in the cars around them, urging them to turn on their hazards to signal that they were still alive and well, offering a little reminder that they were not alone.
Snow fun for Lubanzi!
Making our hearts melt was Lubanzi, all the way from Newcastle to northern KZN.
Bursting with excitement, the young boy couldn’t believe his eyes when he stepped outside his room to see everything covered in crisp white snow!
“Look what is happening today. This is the first time I’ve seen this. It is snowing. This is like history for me, I really like it. It’s so white outside and stuff,” he said with awe.
A now-trending video shows Lubanzi his bright-eyed joy wondering how others were doing out there as he admires the crunchy ice at his feet and hints at needing some hot chocolate to keep warm.
Each of these stories serves as a heartwarming reminder of the strength and kindness that can emerge even in the most challenging circumstances.
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