Note to Editors: Please note Riona Gokool sound bite in English
An admission by KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) Department of Transport (DoT), that Tongaat’s D776 (Emona Road) has not been resurfaced or upgraded in more than 30 years, is a stark reminder of the consequences of failing to maintain critical infrastructure.
The information, in a written parliamentary reply (view here) to questions from the Democratic Alliance (DA), confirms what local residents, businesses and school transport operators have experienced for years – deteriorating road conditions, recurring potholes and unsafe driving conditions.
Despite having spent approximately R9.7 million on patching the road over the past seven years, the department has recently acknowledged that Emona Road suffers from underlying structural deficiencies that require full rehabilitation. This raises serious concerns about value for money and the effectiveness of relying on temporary repairs while long-term solutions are delayed.
While it is encouraging that Emona Road rehabilitation has been included in the DoT’s infrastructure programme, the project remains at Stage 1 (Initiation/Pre-feasibility) despite having commenced in April 2020. It also carries an estimated cost of R82 million and is scheduled to run until July 2028, yet only R200 000 was allocated during the 2024/25 financial year.
This means residents are still years away from seeing real improvement to a road that should have been prioritised long ago. The DA, as a partner in KZN’s Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), calls on KZN’s DoT to urgently;
• Accelerate planning and implementation of the project;
• Strengthen contractor oversight
• Provide transparent progress updates; and
• Adopt a preventative maintenance strategy that avoids costly infrastructure failures.
KZN’s road network is essential for economic growth, commuter safety and service delivery. The prolonged neglect of Emona Road demonstrates the need for better planning, stronger accountability and a commitment to delivering infrastructure that is safe, durable and fit for purpose. The DA will continue to hold the DoT accountable until residents receive the quality infrastructure they deserve.