VANDERBIJLPARK – The deteriorating condition of the R59 is back in the spotlight following the DA’s call for urgent action to repair the provincial road.

The R59, which starts in Dealesville in the Free State and runs northeast to Johannesburg, is intended to be an important economic corridor connecting three provinces.

It passes through agricultural areas such as Bothaville, Wesselsbron, and Hoopstad, and serves as a key route for industries between Alberton, Vereeniging, and Sasolburg. Yet the route has become a danger to motorists and a financial burden for farmers and businesses forced to use alternative roads due to its poor condition.

As part of its intervention plan, the party launched a petition (https://petitions.da.org.za/p/Fix-R59) calling for the R59 to be handed over to SANRAL. They will also write to the Minister of Transport and demand urgent maintenance so that holiday travellers can be safe.

The DA will further engage with the Minister of Cooperative Governance to ensure municipalities are authorised to install lighting, speed bumps, and warning signs, and with the Minister of Agriculture to mitigate the economic impact on the agricultural sector.

With unemployment in North West and the Free State among the highest in the country, the party says South Africa cannot afford for a strategic transport corridor to remain dysfunctional.

The fact that official bodies (like the DA) are now demanding urgent action and publicly acknowledging the dangerous condition of the R59 gives credibility to any petition or public campaign. Partial progress under Operation Vala Zonke shows that efforts were made— but the slow progress and incomplete coverage highlight government neglect or limited capacity.

Through community-driven repairs and repeated serious accidents, community frustration and real danger become clear, making a strong case that “business as usual” on the R59 is no longer acceptable.

Even after government-led repair campaigns like Operation Vala Zonke (2022), key sections of the R59 remained under-repaired or neglected — especially between Sasolburg and Vredefort.

Several serious and fatal accidents have occurred along different parts of the R59 — between Vereeniging and Vaalpark, near Sasolburg — highlighting that the problem is widespread.

Recently, the Sukhari family lost four loved ones in a horrific accident on the R59. “This devastating incident was entirely preventable,” said family spokesperson Vinesh Sukhari.

Rajkaran ‘Smiley’ Sukhari, his wife Shanitha, and their daughters Trisha and Nicole were on their way home after delivering Diwali sweets when a white bakkie collided head-on with their vehicle.

Early on October 18, four people also died when a light motor vehicle and two trucks collided near the N1 off-ramp between Sasolburg and Parys. The accidents again highlight the high risk associated with travelling on the R59.