Motorists seethe as Marconi Drive disintegrates

This vital artery for many industries now symbolises neglect and decay, with hazards ranging from massive potholes to illegal dumping and sewage spills.

“It’s nearly impossible to avoid these potholes, and even harder to avoid damaging your vehicle because of them,” said a frustrated local businessman.

Adding to the danger are makeshift homes erected by squatters in the adjacent field, exacerbating safety concerns and raising broader issues of socio-economic challenges.

The road’s degradation has led to complaints of unbearable stench and filth, which business owners argue are both environmentally and health-threatening.

“We’ve reported these issues repeatedly to the municipality, but our cries fall on deaf ears,” the businessman lamented. “It’s time those in charge step up and take care of this town and the people keeping it alive.”

An official inquiry about Marconi Drive, sent to the Newcastle Municipality on November 27, 2024, remains unanswered, despite follow-ups.

Newcastle Residents Forum weighs in:

The Newcastle Residents Forum (NRF) echoed these frustrations. Representatives Matthew Shunmugam and Neil Sooknanan emphasised the industrial area’s potential as a hub for investment and job creation, calling its poor infrastructure an obstacle to growth.

“This area should have excellent roads to attract investors. Instead, we have potholes, drainage issues, and no evidence of a proper reseal; despite claims that millions were spent on this road,” they said.

They alleged that ‘millions of rands’ were supposedly spent on the road, but that there is nothing to show for the expenditure.

“If work was done on the road, then it must have been of inferior quality. An investigation is warranted to justify the use of public funds on the road, as there are many huge potholes, serious drainage problems, and no tangible evidence of any reseal of the road ever being done -yet there were media reports of the road being given attention after numerous complaints were received,” they said.

They continued: “It is difficult to justify the Council’s area of focus as the industrial area, residential areas, and CBD remain in a state of decadence, with service delivery almost non-existent.”

The NRF also raised concerns about law enforcement’s failure to tackle illegal land occupation and dumping. They pointed out that these issues stem from a broader lack of by-law enforcement and alleged indifference from municipal officials and councillors.

However, a recent Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruling offers a glimmer of hope, allowing senior municipal officials to be charged for failing to perform their duties under the Municipal Systems Act and Municipal Finance Management Act.

“This ruling should be a wake-up call for officials neglecting their responsibilities,” the NRF concluded.

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