The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Eastern Cape has urged national government to act to prevent any further loss of life on the extremely hazardous R75 road between Gqeberha and Kariega.
The R75 has become notorious as Nelson Mandela Bay’s deadliest road, plagued by daily accidents and an alarming loss of life, particularly over the past two years.
Today, I was joined by DA EC Provincial Chairperson, Yusuf Cassim MPL, DA EC Shadow MEC for Roads and Transport, Kabelo Mogatosi MPL, and DA NMB Caucus Leader, Cllr Rano Kayser, in conducting an oversight inspection at the R75 intersection where one of our longest serving councillors, Johnny Arends, recently lost his life in a tragic accident.
See photos here, here, here and here.
Despite the alarming situation, the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality have shown little willingness to address critical R75 safety issues, including non-functional traffic lights, unsafe pedestrian crossings, inadequate street lighting, and vandalism. Instead of working together, they deflect blame while lives are lost to preventable accidents.
I have written to the Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, requesting her to intervene and investigate to ensure SANRAL implements necessary road safety measures, especially at R75 intersections between Gqeberha and Kariega. The time for delay is over, immediate action is necessary to save lives.
Download Letter.
The DA has been at the forefront of engaging SANRAL to impress on it the urgency with which this matter must be addressed.
Previously, I have written several letters to the CEO of SANRAL, Reginald Demana, highlighting the issues plaguing the R75. SANRAL has cited construction mafias and vandalism as significant obstacles to maintaining and upgrading the R75 infrastructure.
Vandalism and construction mafias targeting infrastructure are not unique to Nelson Mandela Bay, so these excuses do not justify SANRAL’s abandonment of its duty to maintain this critical national transportation route.
Given SANRAL’s inability to develop a plan to address the R75 safety issues, Minister Creecy must intervene to ensure the road agency takes necessary action – lives are at stake.
We have previously expressed our willingness to collaborate with SANRAL to find solutions, and we remain committed to this pledge, prioritising the safety of our residents above all.
The DA will do everything in its power to protect the metro and its residents from the hazards posed by this road. We are in your corner, fighting for you. Together we can get Nelson Mandela Bay working again.