Critical Esenembe transport route at risk as road repairs drag on

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20-03-2025
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North Coast Courier
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The road is used by a variety of businesses, including farmers delivering cane to the mills and the transport of fuel to the Avon Peaking Power Plant.

The long overdue P103, Esenembe Road, might be repaired by the end of next month, provided that rainfall does not further delay the project.

Chris McDaniel from Rain Farm, one of the affected business owners, expressed frustration over the slow progress on repairs. He believes the issue is not being treated with the urgency it requires.

The P103 was among the roads severely damaged during the April 2022 floods, including the bridge over the uMhlali River. To maintain access, farmers and businesses constructed a temporary bridge to allow trucks to cross. Without this intervention, the road would have remained completely closed.

South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) media relations manager, Lwando Mahlasela, blamed the significant setbacks on community protests and adverse weather.

“The project was delayed by six months, pushing construction into the rainy season. With much of the work taking place in the uMhlali River, fluctuating water levels have further hindered progress. As a result, the contractor has struggled to make up for lost time,” said Mahlasela.

A growing concern now is a sinkhole on the P104 (Glendale Road) near Shayamoya township. The sinkhole has already closed one lane, and if left unattended, the road could become impassable, affecting fuel transportation to the Avon Peaking Power Plant.

At one stage, a full road closure was considered to speed up repairs on the P103. However, after consultations with affected parties, Sanral decided against it to prevent further disruptions to local businesses. Mahlasela assured that they are working on solutions to minimise the impact on surrounding communities.

Cobus Oelofse, CEO of the iLembe Chamber of Commerce, said the P104 is a critical commercial transport route.

The Chamber has pledged to support the transport department in securing access to KwaDukuza Municipality (KDM) land for a diversion around the collapsed section of the P104. A formal request has already been submitted to KDM.

“It is crucial that these roads remain open and accessible, ensuring that tourism and hospitality businesses in this adventure corridor continue to operate,” said Oelofse.