Transport Department and  SANRAL break promises again to the beleaguered residents of KZN

4 September 2022

The DA has today written to the Acting CEO of SANRAL, Ms Lehlohonolo Memeza, and the Chair of the SANRAL board, Mr Themba Mhambib, to demand answers on the continuing delays in reconstructing the N2 on the South Coast of KZN.

During the April 2022 floods two sections of the N2 northbound carriage way, located at Umgababa and Amanzimtoti, suffered extensive damage. See photos here and here.

These damages have forced this critical arterial route to be narrowed to one lane which causes massive traffic backlogs on a daily basis.

At the time, the DA were assured that work on the N2 South would commence as soon as other completely destroyed roads in KZN were repaired.

In June 2022, SANRAL further committed to commencing construction in July 2022 and estimated that the work would be complete within 2 months. July 2022 came and went with absolutely no progress at all.

In August 2022, the Department of Transport briefed the ad hoc Joint Committee on Flood Disaster Relief and Recovery that work would commence on 28 September 2022.

The DA has conducted inspections on these sites on 30 September and 2 October 2022 and can confirm that absolutely no progress has been made.

The beleaguered motorists and residents have put up with this ineptitude and inability of the Deaprtment of Transport and SANRAL to adhere to even its own deadline for almost 6 months since the floods.

This state of affairs clearly exposes SANRAL undertakings as having little or no value at all.

The DA will pursue this issue and apply the necessary pressure to expedite the repairs to the N2 South in the interests of all affected residents suffering at the hands of government neglect.

Issued by Tim Brauteseth, NCOP Spokesperson for Public Works, Transport, Public Service and Administration, 4 September 2022