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Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

NMB Killer Road Claims Another Two Victims

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Dear Editor

The R75 between Gqeberha and Uitenhage/Kariega has claimed yet another two victims in two unrelated accidents over the weekend. The latest fatalities follow days after the DA has yet again warned SANRAL that their failure to maintain this road is putting lives at risk.

Since January this year there has been various correspondence as well as media reports on SANRAL’s continued failure to maintain this dangerous stretch of road. SANRAL has previously cited various excuses as to why work could not be conducted- ranging from procurement issues to clashes with local SMMEs. Whatever the reason, the continued failure of SANRAL to maintain this road is making them complicit in all the lives lost on this road.

On Thursday I sent yet another letter to SANRAL CEO, Mr Reginald Demana, in which I stated: “It is regrettable that not a single week goes by that there is not some or other fatality, or at the very least, a number of serious accidents that can be attributed to the state of the road”.

Less than 48 hours after the letter was sent a head-on collision between two vehicles at the Johnson Street/R75 intersection caused the first fatality. On Saturday afternoon, a pedestrian was knocked over at the same intersection who later succumbed to his injuries.

An on-site inspection yesterday revealed various areas with damaged guardrails along the route. Broken and accident damaged traffic lights are also strewn at the various accident damaged intersections.

This week I will provide a report of the latest fatalities to Demana and endeavour to schedule an urgent meeting with the local management of SANRAL to discuss ways and means as to how safety on this road can be improved.

Urgent maintenance and repairs to especially guardrails and intersection infrastructure can no longer be delayed. Should SANRAL be unwilling to take action, we will be escalating this matter to the national minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy.

The DA also wants to warn the public to refrain from making use of the R75 at night. Although the road is also dangerous during the day, most serious accidents that lead to fatalities occur at night. Until such time as SANRAL has started to maintain and refurbish especially the dangerous intersections on this road, it should be avoided at night.

The DA is in your corner fighting for you. Together we can get NMB working again.

Regards

Retief Odendaal MPL
PE Southwest and Winterhoek Constituency Leader

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