P34-4 upgrade project faces protests over local hiring

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22-08-2025
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Northern Natal News
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P34-4 upgrade brings hope for better roads and jobs, but protests delay progress.

Rehabilitation of Main Road P34-4 (Old Natal Spa Road) has begun. This 25.6km route links Vryheid and Paulpietersburg. The R200-million project is expected to take 24 months to complete and is part of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport’s Road Rehabilitation Programme.

The road was built more than 50 years ago and is being rebuilt from the base up. The work includes drainage improvements, resurfacing, new signage and guardrails. Traffic is being accommodated in sections to allow the route to remain open during construction.

But the project has not started without tension. Protest action broke out on the P34-4 last week, with residents claiming that the recruitment process for local jobs was irregular and lacked transparency. Ward 8 Councillor Elaine Rodway addressed the protesters at the site, yet many said they were still not satisfied with her response.

The company confirmed that the project also includes a Contract Participation Goal, which sets targets for both local subcontracting and employment. This means that a portion of the work must be subcontracted to targeted enterprises, while jobs must also be created for targeted labour within nearby communities. The targets are measured in monetary terms and form part of the conditions the contractor is expected to meet.

Councillor Rodway said, “Barely a day goes by without a complaint or a discussion about the state of the roads surrounding Vryheid and the tragedies that often occur along these roads, largely due to poor conditions. We are constantly aware of the dangers that motorists are exposed to when travelling along these roads and it is not something to be taken lightly. We can all agree quite unanimously that we want better roads.

“When the road rehabilitation project for the P-34 that connects Vryheid and Paulpietersburg was introduced, it brought with it a sense of hope and a glimmer of progress. Given the magnitude of the pothole crisis, and a realistic outlook of the amount of time and resources that would likely be required to bring about significant improvements, even a glimmer of progress is a good place to start.

“Initial discussions with the Department of Transport, as well as the contractors and engineers, brought even more optimism, as they described the technology that would be implemented in the rehabilitation of the 25.6km stretch of road. My mind began to race with the endless possibilities that this type of technology could open up for solving so many of our road infrastructure problems throughout AbaQulusi. Over the years, the P-34, also known as the Natal Spa road – which was constructed about half a century ago – has seen various temporary ‘fixes’ put in place, but temporary fixes are exactly that… temporary. This 24-month-long project will bring about stronger, more sustainable, and longer-lasting road infrastructure.

“It will also benefit the communities across the four wards through which it spans – namely Ward 7, 8 and 13 of AbaQulusi Municipality and Ward 7 of eDumbe Municipality – by providing local employment opportunities. Most would consider this a fairly substantial step forward, especially at a time when employment is scarce and communities are struggling, given the rising cost of living, not only in AbaQulusi but across the country.

“Even though the section of the project that runs through my ward is only approximately 500m of the 25.6km, I am grateful for every opportunity that has been afforded to the residents of Ward 8, especially in the less fortunate communities, who are being employed to be a part of this investment in our infrastructure. Initially, the selection process was done through the Ward Committee and names were submitted based on a system of identifying those most in need.

“At first, the leaders of the group who are currently holding this project to ransom approached me with their complaint regarding the selection process. They demanded that a random selection process be implemented instead. This seemed like a reasonable alternative, and to my knowledge both methods are used and accepted across other wards for this purpose. However, when I went to Sasko to meet with the community and draw the next two names randomly, I was met with resistance and intimidation, and informed that I would not be allowed to continue with the process by the very same group who demanded the change.

“I have engaged with this group on numerous occasions since, and addressed their issues and demands repeatedly with clarity and honesty, despite several unwarranted attacks on my character and integrity along the way.

“Where possible, compromises were reached, but some of the demands and allegations are unreasonable and cannot be entertained, especially when the ‘goal posts’ are constantly being shifted.

“These strikes have now escalated to the point where equipment and materials are being damaged, and the contractors are pleading with those responsible to refrain from burning these items, as they cannot simply be replaced and it makes the road unsafe for motorists and pedestrians. This is not an unreasonable request, in my opinion.

“We want better roads, we want employment opportunities, and we want future investors to look at Ward 8 as a hub for economic growth and development so that more opportunities for employment may arise. These are things we should be fighting for, not against.

“While I can respect the right to protest if the cause is warranted, I cannot condone illegal strikes, especially when they threaten the progress and upliftment of our community.”

The Vryheid Herald attempted to get comment from the spokesperson for the protesting group, but no response was received before deadline.