The DA has written to KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC Siboniso Duma to urgently intervene on the deteriorating P318/2 Sani Pass Road before the approaching summer rains cause further damage.
We have demanded specific commencement and completion dates rather than general undertakings that the road will receive attention.
Following numerous complaints from residents and tour operators, the DA conducted an oversight visit to Sani Pass to assess the condition of this critically important tourism route first-hand.
What we witnessed requires urgent intervention. Of particular concern is the condition of the drainage infrastructure. Blocked and inadequately maintained drainage channels, together with damaged drainage infrastructure, appear to be contributing significantly to the deterioration of sections of the road.
With the summer rainfall period approaching, there is a limited window in which to act. Failure to address the drainage problems now risks accelerating erosion, causing further deterioration and ultimately increasing the cost of repairing the road.
This is particularly important given reports that previous requests for assistance were met with responses ranging from the unavailability of an excavator to insufficient funding for fuel. Arrangements made for Departmental officials to meet tour operators and inspect affected areas were also reportedly not honoured.
The DA is not calling for another temporary patch-up. We need urgent intervention before the rains, a funded preventative maintenance programme in the medium term, and a sustainable three to five-year plan for the maintenance, rehabilitation and preservation of Sani Pass.
Sani Pass is one of KwaZulu-Natal’s premier tourism assets and is central to the economy of Underberg and the surrounding area. Tour operators, accommodation establishments, restaurants, shops and other local businesses all benefit from the visitors this extraordinary destination attracts.
This is about more than a road. It is about lives and livelihoods.
The DA will pursue the commitments and timelines requested from MEC Duma and hold the Department accountable for their implementation.