Outcry over KZN's hazardous road

FARMERS and residents who have to navigate the R69 that connects Vryheid with Mkuze via Louwsburg in northern KwaZulu-Natal believe that this was probably the most dangerous road in the province.

- TASCHICA PILLAY

They claim that there were more than 500 potholes in a single kilometre of the R69.

Coenie Swanepoel, a cattle and timber farmer living near Louwsburg, said it was life threatening travelling on that road.

"You have to stay focused on that road. You can no longer call them potholes, as they are so deep. People avoid the holes and move onto the oncoming traffic making it extremely dangerous and cause head-on collisions.

"We have spent over R60 000 since December on vehicle repairs because of the damage caused by travelling on this road," said Swanepoel.

He said the road was mostly gravel with large sections of the road falling away underneath.

"It's life-threatening travelling this road. There are accidents all the time. Businesses in this area have either closed or are struggling financially.

People no longer want to come to the town to shop.

"Tourism is also suffering as people are not visiting a local game reserve. We are small farmers in the area farming cattle, timber, dairy, chicken and vegetables.

"People are reluctant to come to our farms to do business because of this road," he said.

He said a trip that used to take them 35 to 40 minutes from Louwsburg to Vryheid now takes an hour and 15 minutes.

Riona Gokool, DA member in the provincial legislature, said for the past two years, community members have submitted monthly complaints to the Department of Transport in Vryheid.