Dear Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure,

The clear lack of planning and communication by the various entities involved in response to the closure of the bridge is deeply disturbing.
On 10 March 2025 a notice from Mr Siboniso Duma MEC for Transport and Human Settlements announcing the closure of the bridge from Wednesday 12 March was shared on our local Residents and Ratepayers WhatsApp group. It was a shock! There had been NO warning.
That evening our councillor put out a message to advise that DoT will have a meeting with Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality on that Wednesday and that they will appeal to Sanral to drop the toll fees or at least reduce them.
The following day a message from the RNM mayor announcing the imminent closure was posted.
On Wednesday the chaotic traffic was all over social media, and an emergency meeting was called with some stakeholders (not sure who determines the participants?), including the chairman of the Northern Cluster RRA Nazir Shaikh who raised the following points:
1. The 464 is not a viable alternative route.
2. Verges not properly cleared.
3. Very poor road markings.
4. Reflective paint, cat eyes etc required urgently.
5. New signages required.
6. Off ramps into the toll must be free to residents.
7. Low level bridge problematic ie no armco barriers, no road markings, overflows during heavy rainfall, flooding, etc
8. Problems of school runs and high toll fees.
9. Sportweni sports program, issue raised.
10. School holidays _28/03 - 08/04. Massive influx of holiday makers.
11. Rethman drive issues raised.
12. Need for visible policing urgently required.
Bridge closure reschedule for Monday next week.
Pier 2 badly damaged.
Minister to intervene for free toll usage.
Costs
1. Consulting fee R53m
2. Signages R1 m
3. Bridge repairs R200m
An extension to the date of closure was given to Monday 17th. Presumably in order to mitigate some of the issues raised during this emergency meeting… and while waiting for the Sanral fees to be relaxed.
On 15 March an ‘Urgent engagement with stakeholders’ went out for a meeting the following day, Sunday 16 to which I was invited. It was accompanied by a press release claiming that the communities were isolated and displaced by the recent rains and that this was the reason for the unsafe state of the bridge. This is highly questionable and deserves proper interrogation – ie a Root Cause Analysis

To be clear, the concerns about the bridge have been raised since at Least 2017!!! These issues have been public in the local newspapers, highlighted by concerned locals and environmentalists for years and years.

Why the silence? Lack of communication with the community around an issue that affects everyone?
The absolute lack of empathy from ALL levels of authority is downright disrespectful. Many residents use that bridge on a daily basis to get to work, and especially to take children to school – although the traffic is never managed, it’s been acceptable, but for these people to now have to either use the expensive toll roads or the badly maintained ‘alternate’ roads is shameful. The time and money wasted due to no planning and support is an abuse.

With a budget of just under R1million rand for signage, we have valid expectations. Although why this is so high is extremely questionable – surely generic ‘Detour’ Roadworks signs would suffice until specifics are ready – even though this should have already been done before the closure!
On Saturday 22 March I went to an event in Marburg. This necessitated me driving south from Sea Park towards Port Shepstone. NO signage at the traffic lights corner R102 and Rethman??? NOTE- THIS has now been put in place – ONE week after the fact! Someone needs to follow the money!

This continues to be a chaotic situation that needs urgent intervention before lives are lost on the terrible 'alternate' routes because locals can't afford the toll fees.

Please help!