The DA has reiterated its call for urgent action on KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) flood-damaged MR551 – between Shongweni and Mpumalanga – after a yet another accident claimed the life of a motorist last night.
According to reports, last night’s tragic situation was made even worse after the occupants of a passing taxi stopped and robbed the dying man of his possessions. They were chased away by an off-duty policeman who happened to be passing by.
The road, which leads from the N3 through the Shongweni valley to Mpumalanga, near Hammarsdale, has been the scene of three accidents during the past two weeks alone. (view here, here and here)
These horrific incidents could have been avoided. The DA has made numerous appeals to KZN’s Department of Transport for the MR551 to be fixed since the April 2022 floods. Yet, to date, the department, under MEC Sipho Hlomuka has failed to act.
The flood damage included a complete wash away of the road, cutting off the local community and the well-known Shongweni Market. The eMncadodo bridge across the Sterkspruit River was also cut off on the Mpumalanga side. In addition, two other sections of road had to be narrowed to one lane due to wash-away sites adjacent to steep drop offs.
These sites were visited by the DA within days of the floods and calls were immediately made to the DoT to effect remedial action. I also escorted the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee on the floods through the various sites on 30 May 2022. Despite this, nothing was done by the DoT and residents were eventually forced to come up with their own solutions.
In the case of the eMncadodo bridge, this has led to disastrous consequences. The approach to the bridge from the Mpumalanga side is treacherous after having been built up with rocks and gravel by local residents and no warning signs or concrete barriers to guide motorists. Requests to the DoT by DA Outer West Constituency Head, Martin Meyer – for barriers to be erected along this dangerous stretch – have also gone unanswered.
The DoT’s lack of concern over this road is unacceptable and typifies the attitude of KZN’s Taliban faction ANC government.
The DA will not rest until this crisis situation has been resolved. Urgent action must be taken on the MR551 if lives are to be saved. We expect the MEC to sit up and take notice.