The Kouga municipality has lodged a dispute against the Eastern Cape Provincial MECs, for failure to maintain provincial roads.
Hattingh Bornman, the Mayor, declared a formal intergovernmental dispute, on Friday.
The dispute is expected to lead to an urgent meeting with the MECs, unlock emergency funding for the most critical roads, a clear plan for repairs and long-term maintenance, and consideration of transferring roads to the municipality to maintain.
Hattingh’s gripe is with Xolile Nqatha, the Eastern Cape MEC for Transport, and Zolile Williams, the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
The dispute is over conditions of the R102 between Jeffreys Bay and Humansdorp, sections of the R330 and R331, roads serving St Francis Bay, Oyster Bay, Cape St Francis and the Gamtoos Valley, which all suffered significant damage.
These roads also serve Hankey, Patensie and surrounding farming communities, placing residents at risk, while threatening agricultural production, tourism and economic activity.
Hattingh said “many residents are unaware that only 28.8% of the road network in Kouga falls under the responsibility of the municipality. A further 66.1% is the responsibility of the Eastern Cape Provincial Government, while 5.1% falls under the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL). This means that the vast majority of roads connecting our towns, supporting our agricultural sector, carrying tourists through our region and serving commuters every day are not municipal roads.”
He also said “declaring a formal intergovernmental dispute is not a decision we have taken lightly. This step has only been taken after exhausting every reasonable avenue available to us. Our residents deserve safe roads, and they deserve action.”
Picture: Supplied