Department of Transport cites budget cuts for no maintenance on Field’s Hill
MPL Sharon Hoosen has called on the Department of Transport to repair and maintain the busy M13, with a focus placed on Field's Hill.
AFTER the horrific truck accident that claimed the lives of 24 people on Thursday, 5 September in 2013, not much has changed along Field’s Hill to ensure the safety of motorists.
The infamous stretch of road fast became known by residents as ‘Field’s Hell’.
Motorists can expect more of the same as, during a recent transport portfolio committee meeting, the Department of Transport revealed it did not have the budget for reparations or maintenance along the M13.
MPL Sharon Hoosen raised her concerns during the Zoom meeting.
“Apart from the reckless drivers we have on our roads, we also have a major problem with the standard of the roads in most parts of KZN. The one that requires urgent attention is becoming a huge problem, Field’s Hill and the M13,” said Hoosen.
The MEC for Transport, Bheki Ntuli, said, “Because of the amount of money we have, we can’t do much. We need to come up with an over-lasting solution, but it is not possible given the budget cuts… but we will do our best.”
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Since the 2013 accident at the base of Field’s Hill, which caused a major uproar in the community, Hoosen noted that numerous calls for intervention have been raised with the Department of Transport.
“Many promises were made by the previous Premier Willies Mchunu, who promised more intervention on the challenges when addressing the use of trucks on this road. Since then, the accidents continued on this road and in addition the Department of Transport had not sufficiently budgeted to address the safety issues in this area. Fast forward to the current situation, it is clear that all the promises that were made were a mere lip service that was provided to the community to keep them calm,” said Hoosen.
In January this year, 12 people, including a four-year-old child, were injured during an accident between a taxi and another vehicle. The taxi came to rest down a bank about 10 metres away from the accident scene. In September one man was injured and, in early October, another five were also injured in an accident.
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Hoosen noted the DoT has a target to reduce road fatalities by 30 per cent.
“The M13 and Field’s Hill should be on the list of high risk roads that should be part of a forward plan to resolve the challenges. Instead, what has been seen constantly, the DoT relies heavily on putting out fires after an incident occurs. Therefore, more preventative measures should be put in place, to avoid further loss of lives on these roads,” she said.
In August last year the Highway Mail highlighted the deep soil erosion along two sections above Jameson Terrace where large portions of the road’s foundation was left exposed to the elements.
Hoosen concluded, “I could not believe that the MEC responded by agreeing with my comments that a permanent solution must be made urgently to avoid further loss of lives and ensure that the road is safe for road users but could not address this matter other than do minor repairs as the department did not have sufficient budget.”
The Department of Transport did not provide comment by the time of going to print.
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