Durban — KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC Sipho Hlomuka has called for calm in Zululand and appealed to the Pongola community to open the N2 to side tipper trucks to avoid further harm to the economy.
The MEC’s call and appeal come after notices and alerts were issued about side tipper trucks being banned on the R33, R34 and R66 – a community decision.
According to a notice, as of October 20, no coal or mining side tipper trucks would be allowed on the R33, R34 and R66. It was a community decision.
The notice also stated that Eskom should be fixed so rail can be used.
Hlomuka appealed to the community of Zululand to work with the government and allow the movement of tipper trucks on the N2 in Pongola without any intimidation.
The MEC was alerted that the community in Pongola was continuing to be mobilised to ban the movement of trucks, mainly the heavy-duty vehicles transporting coal following a truck accident that claimed 20 lives in September.
Hlomuka said the ongoing blocking of trucks by community members in Pongola was now causing severe traffic congestion on the R34/R66 which is increasing the risk of more accidents. In addition, the increased truck volume on the R36/R66 was damaging the road infrastructure which is not built to endure heavy vehicles.
Hlomuka said: “While we acknowledge the devastation these trucks have caused to the community of Pongola, we once again make a strong appeal to the community to open up the N2. The opening of the road is being supported by the bold plans we have started to implement working with the various stakeholders and the community of Phongolo. If the situation continues, the economy of the province and the country will be adversely affected. The travelling of trucks on R34/R66 is not attainable since that road is not designed for heavy vehicles. The community must also refrain from activities that will put them in conflict with law-enforcement agencies.”
Hlomuka added that police were improving their deployments to monitor the situation in the area following the ongoing, sporadic threats and stoning of vehicles. There are also messages that have been making rounds on social media.
He said the government would continue to engage with various stakeholders and the community of Pongola to monitor the implementation of the interventions in place and to find long-lasting solutions.
Hlomuka said the N2 in Pongola was the main road designed to handle such heavy vehicles and was a strategic route for trucks as it connects provinces with other Southern African Development Community countries. The continuous blockading of trucks on N2 also has the potential to lead to an economic crisis for the province and country, Hlomuka explained.
He said following the extensive engagements in Pongola with all stakeholders by departmental officials which ended with a visit by Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube and Hlomuka government believed there was no further justification for the community to continue blockading this strategic N2 route.
The plans agreed to by the government and the community of Pongola, some of which had already been implemented, include the opening of a satellite Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) station, deployment of RTI personnel and resources and improving the visibility by the SAPS. The government is also in the process of improving signage on the N2 and installing speed-calming measures.
Daily News