DA reports life-threatening N10 pothole road to SANRAL

Issued by Kobus Botha – DA Member of EC Transport Portfolio Committee
23 Mar 2023 in Press Statements

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has reported the notorious N10 “pothole” road to the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL).

As the volume of vehicles, particularly trucks used to transport manganese, has increased, this national road has become a death trap. The road surface has deteriorated and is riddled with potholes, forcing drivers to swerve into oncoming traffic or risk catastrophic vehicle damage.

Roads are to the province’s economy what arteries are to the heart.

Vast sections of the N10 between Cradock and Nelson Mandela Bay have become badly degraded. Gaping potholes between Cookhouse and Paterson are life-threatening.

Roads lose thickness and become prone to surface damage without ongoing repairs and periodic resurfacing. Their lifespan drops sharply.

The surface degradation of the roads has been compounded by overloaded trucks, which tear up the roads, leading to even faster deterioration.

I have written to SANRAL requesting their urgent intervention in repairing the N10 and have asked for an indication of the budget and timeframes to effect repairs.

I have also escalated the problem to the DA’s Shadow Minister of Transport, Chris Hunsinger, to take the matter up nationally.

The DA is calling on those involved in the manganese ore transportation business to be more considerate, respect fellow road users and abide by the rules of the road at all times.

The government needs to think outside the box to address the challenges that we are facing.

This includes considering Public Private Partnerships, such as one where private companies can be appointed to address the ever-increasing burden of pothole repairs on our roads.

We should also embrace new technologies, such as plastic roads already rolled out in the DA-led Kouga municipality. This innovative solution requires much less maintenance and repurposes tonnes of plastic waste that would otherwise be heading to landfills.

Ensuring that our roads are usable by eradicating potholes and conducting proper maintenance will automatically reduce fatalities and damage to vehicles.

Failing to address these challenges, however, will further cripple the provincial economy. Roads are essential to economic activity. When they fail, so do the businesses that rely on them, from farmers and miners to retailers and the service industry.

The DA will continue to fight for quality roads to grow the economy and keep road users safe.