Potholes on new highway plague motorists

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06-02-2025
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Highway Mail
Source

The fairly new R1.3 billion highway, Dumisani Makhaye Drive, has turned into a nightmare for motorists as it is riddled with potholes.

PINETOWN residents, Karen and Alan Janisch, went through an unpleasant experience recently when they were involved in an accident caused by potholes on Dumisani Makhaye Drive.

Being a fairly new highway, Karen said it is gravely concerning for the safety of people that use this route every day as the road is in a terrible condition.

The road that connects the communities of Newlands, KwaMashu, Inanda, KwaDabeka, Clermont, New Germany and Pinetown was officially opened in December 2017 by then president, Jacob Zuma.

Named after the late struggle hero, Dumisani Makhaye, it was said during the opening that its completion cost R1.3 billion, which made it the biggest road infrastructure development in the country in a period of five years.

The road was built by the KZN province in conjunction with eThekwini Municipality and the then premier Willies Mchunu highlighted that the highway did not fall under the Go!Durban project.

Karen said the accident happened when they were travelling towards Newlands West, coming from Pinetown. As they were not familiar with the area, they had to use their GPS.

Recalling the day of the incident, she said her husband was driving down Dumisani Makhaye Drive and at the last minute noticed a deep pothole. “He tried to swerve, he missed the first pothole but unfortunately hit the next few thereafter.”

Although they were not hurt, she said the ordeal was scary and they felt very vulnerable on the side of the road. Being involved with an animal rescue organisation, the couple said they were grateful that they did not have any rescue dogs in the car.

“We had just done a rehoming.”

Asked about the damages to the car, she said the tyres did not burst as they had initially thought, however one tyre had been pushed right up against the framework of the car, preventing it from moving freely.

“So we were stranded. Once the tyre had been removed, it was noted that the control arm had been badly bent.”

Karen said they were grateful to a gentleman from a nearby informal settlement who assisted them to take the wheel off so they could see the damage.

When Metro police stopped at the scene, the couple said they were informed their car was the fifth one in that week to hit the potholes.

Also read: Westville North residents demand action on damaged road

“We were told that many motorists had reported their concerns about the potholes to the road works department. That road is dangerous and travelling in the tow truck down towards the robots, there was so much damage to the road. Something needs to be done as the next individual may not be so lucky!”

KZN Department of Transport spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya said the department is going around the province repairing roads damaged by prolonged rainfall which started on January 1.

In addition, Sibiya said there are many other road networks damaged by the floods of 2019 and 2022 which are still being repaired and maintained.

“There is also a pothole patching programme which is being accelerated across the province, including eThekwini,” said the spokesperson.