Pressure Mounts Over Dangerous R330 Between Humansdorp And Cape St Francis
Pressure is growing on the provincial government to carry out urgent repairs to the R330 between Humansdorp and Cape St Francis.
Kouga Executive Mayor Hattingh Bornman, on-site on the R330, says much of the 30km route has deteriorated to a dangerous level. Motorists now regularly leave the tarred surface to avoid deep potholes and damaged sections.
“People have to drive off the road to be able to drive on the road,” Bornman said during an inspection of the route.
Municipality Escalates R330 Dispute
Kouga Local Municipality has declared an intergovernmental dispute over the condition of the road. It is also preparing court papers as part of its effort to force the province to act.
Meanwhile, the long-awaited tender for work on the R330 remains outstanding. The municipality is also seeking clarity on emergency repair budgets and timelines.
Bornman said the condition of the road placed motorists at risk every day. He added that the situation could no longer continue without urgent intervention.
Political And Community Pressure Builds
DA spokesperson on roads and transport Vicky Knoetze recently conducted an oversight visit to the R330. She has since submitted detailed questions to the provincial government about the tender, emergency repairs and expected timelines.
Residents and local businesses are also joining the campaign. The Cape St Francis Civic Association is preparing to launch a petition calling for immediate action.
Bornman encouraged residents to support the petition and continue contacting the provincial government and Premier’s office.
He said progress would require a joint approach involving the municipality, provincial legislature, residents and businesses.
“We cannot allow this,” Bornman said. “Enough is now literally enough.”
The municipality has committed to keeping pressure on the province until the R330 and other damaged provincial roads across Kouga receive the repairs they urgently need.
Too little, too late Mr Mayor.
Enough was enough long ago.
Our apolitical residents group warned you, MPL Vicky Knoetze, and our SFPO in December 2024 that the road would crumble, especially the damaging and relentless effects of the groyne trucks and building boom traffic.
Often the response we got from you was that “our hands are tied, we can’t ifluence provincial government”. We asked you nearly two years ago what contingency plan you or provincial roads had if the road condition worsened. We met with your chief Engineer and raised the urgency of the situation, and asked if he could intervene with provincial roads. Nothing came of that.
In desperation, to save lives, the community raised over R 350 000 and volunteers did what they could to make the road driveable and safe. You sent a pothole team to the dip for one day, and most of the pothole fixes they did failed soon thereafter. You did, though, not miss the opportunity to make it a public relations. photo opportunity. You stated that muni can’t sit idly by while lives are at stake. Well, that is the last we saw of the muni pothole team.
Why, at that stage, nearly a year ago, did you not declare the dispute with provincial roads? Why did the MPL s not demand answers in the provincial parliament then?
Our criticism isn’t opportunistic, its not political. We got involved in the R330 for the sake of our town, and to save lives. We have done, and continue to do what we can to get the R330 potholes fixed while the dispute- and the tender award pricess drag on.
The potholes must be fixed NOW.
Even if the tender is awarded soon, at best it will take the contractor untill 2027 to start work.
It seems that the dispute is heading towards legal action. That won’ result in immediate action on the road.
The Mayor keeps saying he is ‘driving this, they are driving that’..meanwhile driving the R330 is becoming more hazardous by the day.
Excellent response from Trevor