Flood-damaged road a headache for businesses

IT HAS been months since the April floods swept through parts of Kwazulunatal, leaving a trail of destruction.

Speaking about the progress made with rehabilitation programmes for the provincial roads, Premier Nomusa Dube-ncube, said last week that the province had suffered damage to its road infrastructure amounting to R5.7 billion. This equated to 1 372 flood-damaged projects.

She said more than 80% of the roads identified for rehabilitation under Operation Siyazenzela – meaning “We are doing it for ourselves” – have been fixed. However, businesses in Pinetown that have been affected by damage to Goodwood Road in Mahogany Ridge beg to differ.

The road services an industrial area where companies like the Pick n Pay Distribution Centre, The Courier Guy and Clicks Retail Durban Distribution are situated.

Christo Erasmus, the manager of

The Courier Guy, said the damage to the road had affected business.

“Not only are we seeing delays by using alternative routes, but we are also losing business. The state of the road is so terrible that our vehicles get damaged. That is causing added costs for the company,” said Erasmus.

Werner Haymes, the manager at the Pick n Pay Distribution Centre, said the alternative routes were longer.

“Goodwood Road has been damaged for months now. They come here and do temporary repair work on the road, which doesn’t last long, then the road is back to the way it was again,” said Haymes.

Resident Justin Bircher also expressed his frustration.

“The municipality backfilled a hole and said they were waiting for funding to be released to complete a proper repair. With the recent rains, these repairs are being washed away again.

“There is raw sewage that still flows freely into the river. The whole area also continuously suffers from water pipes bursting due to the infrastructure not being repaired,” said Bircher.

“Why should we continue to pay our rates for services, especially water and sewage disposal, that is flowing into the river?” asked Bircher.

DA councillor Rajan Maharaj said a large section of the road was washed away. They temporarily repaired the road because businesses and the community needed access.

“Parts of the road are getting washed again with cracks appearing on the edge of the road which is dangerous,” he said.

Ethekwini spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said the city had done temporary repairs by backfilling the washedaway section so that the road could be used. He said the sewer and stormwater pipes still needed to be repaired.

“The temporary backfilling (on the road) is stable and unlikely to cave in. It should hold until final repairs and stream erosion protection is constructed,” Mayisela said. “We appeal to all our stakeholders to understand that the damage was huge and unprecedented.”