Municipality prioritises damage on R40, but no funds for R536

Repairs to the R40 through Hazyview have been prioritised by the City of Mbombela Local Municipality (CMLM), after the continuous rain over the past four weeks.

“The municipality had identified the R40 through Hazyview as a priority to be rebuilt in the past, however, funding was not made available for this project,” said CMLM spokesperson Joseph Ngala.
“The recent stormwater damage on the internal main roads through Hazyview has been prioritised to be repaired.”

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A great number of Hazyview’s roads suffered severe structural issues after the rain. Motorists using the R536 between town and Mkhuhlu were stationary for more than an hour when soil and debris covered the road last Thursday. Upon inspection by Hazyview Herald on Friday, the R536 had still not been repaired.

“We were stuck in traffic for over an hour, just in that section on the R536 near Shabalala,” said a local resident, Elmari Coetser. “What is usually a two-way road turned into a five-lane one because of all the taxis trying to pass and motorists trying to turn around or overtake other vehicles.”

At the moment, CMLM is trying to secure all the necessary funds to start reparations on the affected roads. “Subsequent to the heavy rain, the streets and infrastructure must be cleaned and the debris, soil and silt must be removed to assess the damage to the infrastructure,” Ngala said.

“The municipality has already started with the cleaning and repairing of infrastructure where possible.”
Ngala mentioned that rural areas have been affected the most by the storms. “The rural areas, where most of the damage has occurred, have been prioritised to ensure access to schools, clinics and amenities, and CMLM is busy with repairs, where possible.”

It is not yet possible to determine the cost of damage in Hazyview alone, however, the estimated cost to the entire municipality’s roads and infrastructure is said to be beyond what it can afford.

“The approximate damage is estimated to exceed R280 million and we will only be able to determine the full extent of the damaged after detail investigations,” Ngala said.

“Please take note that these estimates are for the entire road infrastructure, not necessarily the Hazyview area.

A sum of R20 million has been made available for the repair to damaged infrastructure. CMLM will apply to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to declare the area a disaster and apply for additional funding,” Ngala said.

As for the growing pothole on the R536, which is the responsibility of the provincial Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport (DPWRT), though it has been prioritised, the funds to repair it are allegedly lacking.

“The department is aware of the damages caused by the heavy rainfall on the R536, as well as many other roads in similar condition. As a result, assessments were carried out for immediate intervention. However, the department encountered delays to repairs in some areas including the R536, due to budgetary constraints,” said DPWRT spokesperson, Mxolisi Dlamini.

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“The road has since been prioritised for immediate repairs in accordance with the Declaration of National State of Disaster: Strong Winds and Floods due to Tropical Storm Eloise and Summer Seasonal Rains, signed by the minister for cooperative governance and traditional affairs on February 24.”