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An oversight visit by the Democratic Alliance (DA) to the R74 – Oliviershoek Pass road which is the alternative route to the N3, the busiest road in SA, revealed that the Free State Department of Roads has failed in its commitment to repair the enormous collapse which occurred early in 2022.

One lane of this main road is closed to traffic due to a large section which has collapsed about 10m down the ravine. This collapse continues to expand as more sections collapse continuously. There should be a stop-go station erected to control the traffic, while heavy trucks should most certainly be banned from the road. Please see pictures here, here, here and here.

Last year, in reply to a question from the DA, the former MEC Bulwane assured the Legislature that works to repair this extremely dangerous section would commence in October 2022. To date, there is no sign of any repair work on site.

Bulwane also stated that the road was closed to heavy trucks and that only passenger vehicles and local farm equipment were allowed to use the road. Large signs were erected, but these have since disappeared.

This is an outrageous failure by the Free State Department. Heavy trucks frequent the extremely vulnerable road, both on the Free State and KZN side where some signs of emergency repairs can be seen, with no hindrance, and there is no sign of traffic law enforcement anywhere at all.

The N3, van Reenens Pass, is prone to accidents daily, in which case this alternative route becomes crucial for travellers between Free State and KZN. The only other route from Free State to KZN is between Vrede and Newcastle and is now a death trap due to the extreme deterioration of the road.

The DA calls for immediate action and will be raising this matter urgently in the Portfolio Committee on Roads, and through further questions to the new MEC, and to The South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL) in the National Council of Provinces.

Issued by Leona Kleynhans - DA Member of the Provincial Legislature: Free State