Transport Department responsible for deteriorating roads in Okhahlamba, says DA
Following a parliamentary oversight visit, several road projects were initiated, including the rehabilitation of the vital R74 Oliviershoek Pass to the Free State
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the uThukela District has written to the Parliament Transport Portfolio Committee to request an urgent follow-up to their oversight visit a year ago to the R74 Oliviershoek Pass road.
The Members of Parliament (MPs) saw for themselves the distressing extent of neglect within the Okhahlamba road network that is causing significant logistical challenges for the local community, tourism and agriculture.
Their oversight visit in April last year was to ensure that urgent maintenance on Okhahlamba roads was undertaken. Maintenance was subsequently started, but stopped many months ago, and is now INCOMPLETE and a danger to motorists. The DA has been tirelessly advocating for urgent intervention from the Parliament Transport Portfolio Committee and the KZN Department of Transport to address the alarming state of the roads in Okhahlamba Municipality.
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Situated adjacent to the UNESCO Drakensberg Park, the region relies heavily on tourism and agriculture as its primary economic drivers.
Following the parliamentary oversight visit, several road
projects were initiated, including the rehabilitation of the vital R74 Oliviershoek Pass to the Free State. Unfortunately, these crucial endeavours ground to a halt as contractors were left unpaid by the KZN Department of Transport. The DA in Okhahlamba has once again approached the committee, urging them to finalise and prioritise the intervention they initiated.
The irony of the provincial ANC’s proposal to erect a cable car into Lesotho while failing to maintain the existing roads is mind-boggling and has not gone unnoticed by the people of Okhahlamba. A robust and safe road network is indispensable for sustaining a thriving regional economy. This reality has been underscored by recent statistics which demonstrate that the DA-governed Western Cape, with its world-class road infrastructure, stands as the sole province in the country to have created a significant number of new job opportunities.
The DA in Okhahlamba calls upon the KZN Department of Transport and the provincial government to prioritise the urgent repair and maintenance of roads within Okhahlamba Municipality.
Failure to address this critical issue not only jeopardises the livelihoods of residents, but also undermines the potential for economic growth and prosperity in the region.
Submitted by Councillor Thys Janse van Rensburg (DA uThukela chairperson)
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