The deteriorating state of provincial roads is undermining tourism and business confidence in the Umngeni Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.

UMngeni Mayor Chris Pappas has written to the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs, Musa Zondi, to plead for intervention. 

The roads fall under the Department of Transport. Pappas said he was appealing to Zondi after he had received no meaningful response from the Department of Transport.

The Department of Transport said this week that it is having to balance numerous priorities due to its budget being cut. 

In the letter to Zondi, Pappas expressed his serious concerns about the deteriorating condition of provincial roads under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transport within the uMngeni Local Municipality area.

“The uMngeni region, which encompasses Howick, Hilton, Nottingham Road, Lions River, and surrounding rural areas, is a key tourism and economic hub in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. 

“During the festive season, thousands of visitors travel to the area to enjoy its natural beauty, events, and hospitality offerings. Unfortunately, the poor condition of provincial roads has become a growing deterrent to visitors, posing safety risks and diminishing the overall attractiveness of the region.

“The provincial government, under the leadership of the Honourable Premier, has rightly placed a strong emphasis on growing the economy and creating jobs through investment, tourism, and infrastructure development. However, the state of the road network under the Department of Transport undermines these objectives,” said Pappas. 

The roads in question include:

• R103 – Midlands Meander Rd

• P165 – Curry’s Post Rd

• P141 – Karkloof Rd

• P134 – Dargle Rd

• P147 – Mount West Rd

• P27 – Lower Loteni Rd

Pappas noted that these roads have suffered from long-term neglect, inadequate maintenance, and worsening potholes that impede access to local businesses, farms, and tourism establishments.

“These issues have previously been brought to the attention of the Honourable MEC for Transport, yet no substantive response or intervention has been received. This continued silence and inaction risk undoing the collective progress made by provincial and local governments in revitalising the regional economy.

“I therefore urge your respective departments to prioritise urgent rehabilitation and maintenance of provincial roads within the uMngeni Municipality and to consider a coordinated intervention before the upcoming festive season. Such an effort would not only safeguard the lives of road users but also support tourism, local businesses, and job creation in line with the province’s economic growth agenda,” he concluded. 

Zondi told The Mercury that he has received many similar letters.

“When we spoke at the investment conference, I stated that infrastructure is king because if there is poor infrastructure, it could undermine all that we are trying to achieve here,” Zondi said.

He added that  they are pushing all of government to work together to address infrastructure challengs as poor infrastructure undermines investment and economy. 

MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, said the department is operating with limited resources because of budget cuts that impacted all government departments.

THE MERCURY 

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