The DA will be writing to the chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee on transport, to summon the Minister of Transport and the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) to account for the dangerous state of roads in and around Nelson Mandela Bay.
On February 8, 2024, DA EC Provincial chairperson, Yusuf Cassim (MPL), was joined by DA NMB Caucus Leader, Councillor Retief Odendaal, DA EC spokesperson, Councillor Georgina Faldtman, and DA NMB spokesperson for Roads and Transport, Councillor Rano Kayser, in conducting an oversight inspection along the hazardous R75 between Gqeberba and Kariega.
There are currently no operational traffic lights and no safe pedestrian crossings along this road. Hundreds of metres of damaged guardrail are also strewn along the route. This stretch of road is of vital importance to the economy of Nelson Mandela Bay as it is a main route for the transport of goods. Additionally, it is an important road for the transport of children to and from school, and provides access to the city for those seeking employment.
Traffic jams during peak hours negatively impact the jobs of residents, and are also the cause of numerous accidents, posing a significant danger to children.
SANRAL is responsible for the maintenance of the R75, but over the last two years has shown little interest in performing its duty. On January 15, 2024, Councillor Odendaal wrote to the CEO of SANRAL, Reginald Demana, to request his urgent intervention before more people are injured or lose their lives. Receipt of his communication was received from SANRAL, but no further feedback has been forthcoming. Councillor Odendaal will be writing to the minister to request feedback on the non-responsiveness of the CEO of SANRAL.
Cassim said,
In November 2022 PE Express reported that MMC for Roads and Transport, Kabelo Mogatosi, said they were in the final stages of the designs in collaboration with SANRAL.
The meeting with SANRAL was meant to be beyond the R75 (Uitenhage Road) and included other roads which fall under their mandate. At that time, when asked about the dangers of deploying traffic officers to intersections daily after the murder of Officer Sonica Smith while she was performing duties on the R75 in 2022, Mogatosi answered:
“It is not ideal for us to continuously have officers along these busy junctions, but for now we have asked the traffic department to help us until we implement.”
