A Humansdorp resident and business owner has raised serious safety concerns about the deteriorating condition of local roads, warning that lives are at risk due to neglected infrastructure and hazardous conditions.
Carel Bakkes, who travels these routes daily, highlighted two particularly dangerous stretches: the R102 between Mondplaas and Jeffreys Bay, and the N2 near the Hankey turn-off.
R102 between Mondplaas and Jeffreys Bay
He said that women and children are often left stranded on the R102 between Mondplaas and Jeffreys Bay daily when faced with car troubles resulting from the deteriorating road.
Bakkes said that the road is dangerous, and lives can be lost.
He further described witnessing the aftermath of numerous serious accidents along this stretch.
“I have seen many cars lying on their roofs after a terrible accident,” Bakkes stated.
He said that massive potholes have developed on the R102, creating hazardous conditions for all road users.
Bakkes expressed frustration over the prolonged deterioration of the road infrastructure, noting that despite the hazardous conditions persisting for an extended period, relevant authorities have failed to implement any remedial measures or maintenance work.
He said that the deteriorating infrastructure poses multiple threats.
“It is terrible to see how deep the potholes are. If people’s cars are damaged and they have to stop, it is a safety concern because it is not safe on this stretch of road,” said Bakkes.
Commenting on the condition of the R102, Eastern Cape Department of Transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose said that the road is in a fair condition and that there are only a few sections that need some attention.
However, he said that the road is serviceable.
Addressing concerns about reported accidents, Binqose emphasized that the department’s data does not support claims of frequent crashes.
“We don’t keep such statistics for certain portions or for each route in the province. However, this road is certainly not among the roads with a lot of accidents. We barely have any reports from it,” said Binqose.
He further explained the department’s approach to road incidents and said that even though they do not have many accidents on this specific stretch of road, they always consider accidents a result of a combination of factors coming together leading to a crash, starting from the driver.
Regarding maintenance efforts, Binqose confirmed ongoing work.
“The road is currently being maintained by our in-house team based in Nelson Mandela Bay Metro. Currently there’s no contract in place for outsourced maintenance, but funds are in place and once a service provider is appointed, they will fully take over its maintenance,” said Binqose.
When asked about pothole repairs specifically, he said that they deal with potholes through top patching projects without wasting time analyzing their size.
Binqose further said that certain sections of the road need some attention, including signage and other elements.
Regarding future plans, he said that the department has no plans for full rehabilitation of this road, but added they are focused on implementation of routine maintenance through the department’s allocated budget for Kouga Local Municipality’s surfaced roads, improvement of stormwater structures, upgrading of intersections, and vegetation control.
N2 near the Hankey turn-off
In addition to the pothole problem along the R102, he also highlighted another dangerous situation on the N2 near the Hankey turn-off, where livestock frequently wander onto the highway.
“There is also an issue with many cows on the road near the turn-off to Hankey on the N2. Every day a cow is bumped on this road,” said Bakkes.
He emphasised that poor visibility on both roads compounds the danger.
“Since there is not much visibility on both roads, it is a major safety concern,” said Bakkes.
Commenting on the livestock on the N2, Lwando Mahlasela, South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) media relations manager, said that they are aware of the recurring problem with cattle on the N2 at the Hankey turn-off.
He further said that according to statistics, the Hankey turn-off which is at N2/10 KM66 recorded one incident involving stray animals from June 2024 to date, but that there were no fatalities.
Mahlasela said that the incident was recorded on August 19, 2024, at 01.20 on the N2/10 KM 66.4.
“On this date it was recorded that a truck hit a cow and an SUV travelling from the opposite direction hit a second cow. No injuries were recorded,” said Mahlasela.
He said that to prevent livestock from accessing the N2, fences were replaced on several occasions, but these have either been vandalised or stolen.
Mahlasela said that SANRAL has engaged with local farmers and communities about containing their livestock through RIMS, Agri Eastern Cape, the South African Police Service (SAPS) and local project liaison committee (PLC) members to communities.
He further said that there are adequate warning signs alerting motorists to possible livestock on the road.
“Livestock has been predominantly visible in the intersection but noted at the residential section (Thornhill), on the eastern side of the intersection. SANRAL also urges livestock owners to look after their livestock on this road,” said Mahlasela.
According to Regulation 313: Animal on a Public Road, no person shall leave or allow any bovine animal, horse, ass, mule, sheep, goat, pig or ostrich to be on any section of a public road where that section is fenced or in any other manner closed along both sides, and no person shall leave such animal in a place from where it may stray onto such section of a public road.
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