The Democratic Alliance has called for the urgent transfer of the KwaZulu-Natal section of the R74 Oliviershoek Pass to the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) after a new sinkhole emerged on the widely deteriorating pass.
DA uThukela chairperson, councillor Thys Janse van Rensburg, said this week that the pass was “crumbling in real time” and posed severe risks to freight trucks and other vehicles using the road.
“A new sinkhole has opened on a downhill sharp bend, a death trap waiting to happen. Sections of the road edge have collapsed, and the entire route is hazardous, especially at night with low visibility,” said Janse van Rensburg.
“This is no longer just inconvenient, it is life-threatening for heavy vehicles, visiting tourists and daily learner transport.”
The R74 serves as a key national alternative to the N3 Van Reenen Pass, supporting freight movement, agriculture, tourism in the northern Drakensberg and communities near the Unesco-listed Drakensberg World Heritage Site.
Janse van Rensburg highlighted the economic impact of the failing road.
“Its continued neglect is devastating the local economy, undermining the Drakensberg World Heritage Site, destroying jobs in hospitality and farming and forcing expensive detours,” he said.
The DA noted that more than three-and-a-half years after Parliament adopted recommendations from the Portfolio Committee on Transport to transfer provincial roads, including the R74 to Sanral, the KZN portion remained under provincial control.
In contrast, it said the Free State side had been transferred and was now "professionally managed” by Sanral.
Janse Van Renburg said the DA had written to KZN MEC for Transport, Siboniso Duma, and the National Assembly Portfolio Committee on Transport requesting an urgent update on the status of the transfer process and a firm timeline for completion.
“The ANC MEC’s repeated failure to manage the road infrastructure in KZN is costing lives, livelihoods, and our tourism future. The DA will not stop holding him accountable until this strategic route is upgraded under Sanral’s funding and expertise,” he said.
Meanwhile, Duma said on Tuesday that his department was focusing on trucks in its road safety strategy, following several fatal crashes.
“I have mandated the newly appointed Head of the Department of Transport, Zibusiso Dlamini, to strengthen the road safety plan with a clear focus on trucks. Last weekend we buried 17 people who died in accidents involving trucks.”
He hailed progress in drunk-driving enforcement under the #NenzaniLaEzweni Operation, which has yielded over 4 400 arrests in the province since August 15, 2025.
“Our road networks, which are being constructed, rehabilitated, and repaired, should not be playgrounds for irresponsible drivers. We must remove all these elements that are costing our country a fortune.”
He said South Africa’s annual road accident costs exceeded R164 billion (3.4% of GDP) and Road Accident Fund payouts over R45.6 billion in 2023/2024.
