KOUGA – Kouga Executive Mayor Hattingh Bornman has declared a formal intergovernmental dispute against the Eastern Cape MEC for Transport, Xolile Nqatha, and the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Zolile Williams, over what the municipality describes as years of failure to maintain provincial roads that make up more than 66% of the road network serving Kouga residents.
In a statement, Kouga Municipality said the dispute follows years of engagement with the Eastern Cape Department of Transport, during which the municipality repeatedly raised concerns, requested intervention and proposed practical solutions to address the deteriorating state of the provincial road network.
“Declaring a formal intergovernmental dispute is not a decision we have taken lightly,” said Bornman.
“This step has only been taken after exhausting every reasonable avenue available to us. Our residents deserve safe roads, and they deserve action.”
The municipality noted that many residents are unaware that only 28.8% of the road network in Kouga falls under the responsibility of the municipality. A further 66.1% is the responsibility of the Eastern Cape Provincial Government, while 5.1% falls under the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL).
This means that most roads connecting towns, supporting the agricultural sector, carrying tourists through the Kouga region and serving commuters every day are not municipal roads.
The municipality said the recent floods have further exposed the poor condition of these roads.
Major routes, including the R102 between Jeffreys Bay and Humansdorp, sections of the R330 and R331, roads serving St Francis Bay, Oyster Bay, Cape St Francis and the Gamtoos Valley have all suffered significant damage.
The municipality added that roads serving Hankey, Patensie and surrounding farming communities have deteriorated to an unacceptable level, placing residents at risk while threatening agricultural production, tourism and economic activity.
The municipality said that despite repeated requests over several years, including proposals to transfer certain provincial roads to the municipality so that they could be maintained locally, little meaningful progress has been made.
The municipality’s dispute contends that the provincial government has failed to fulfil its constitutional and statutory responsibility to adequately maintain the provincial road network, resulting in unsafe travelling conditions and negatively affecting service delivery, economic growth and the quality of life of residents.
Bornman said he remains hopeful that the formal dispute process will result in constructive engagement between the municipality and the provincial government.
“Our hope is that this process will lead to an urgent meeting with the relevant MECs, emergency funding for the most critical roads, a clear implementation plan for repairs and long-term maintenance, and consideration of transferring roads that the municipality is willing and able to maintain. We remain committed to working cooperatively, but our residents cannot continue to wait while vital infrastructure continues to deteriorate,” said Bornman.
The municipality emphasised that the declaration of the dispute is not about politics, but about ensuring that every sphere of government fulfils its constitutional responsibilities.
“Kouga Municipality has consistently demonstrated its ability to deliver and maintain the roads that fall within its mandate. We now call on the provincial government to fulfil its responsibility for the 66.1% of the road network under its control. Our communities deserve safe, reliable roads, and we will continue to advocate for them until meaningful action is taken,” said Bornman.
He acknowledged the commitment shown by officials within the Department of Transport’s district office.
“I want to thank the officials at district level who have worked with us in good faith and have done everything within their means to assist. Unfortunately, they are hamstrung by a lack of resources, funding and decision-making support from higher levels within the provincial government. The reality is that they simply do not have the capacity to address the scale of the challenges facing Kouga’s provincial road network,” said Bornman.
This is a developing story.
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