MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) – A road sign, forcing all heavy vehicles of 7 tonnes and above to use the dangerous, unfinished N1 toll road across the Soutpansberg, was still in place this week, regardless of the fact that the life-threatening situation it creates, was brought to the attention of all the relevant authorities more than half a year ago.

Anger is mounting over the apparent arrogance and reckless disregard for the safety of traffic on this unfinished toll road. The hazardous consequences of an arrangement, apparently jointly decided upon by the National Roads Agency and the Provincial authorities for mainly financial (toll money) reasons, was brought to the attention of the Provincial Roads Agency as early as January this year. Since then, repeated requests to both the Provincial Roads Department and the Provincial Transport Authorities have brought no relief..

Repeated requests to reverse the decision and allow heavy vehicle operators to use the routes of their choice, according to the ability of their vehicles, were bluntly ignored by all the authorities involved in the matter. The Waterpoort alternative route, which is now prohibited to heavy vehicles with international cargos, was specifically upgraded as an alternative route for heavy vehicles, some years ago. In a seemingly arrogant disregard for the safety of motorists and residents of Makhado (Louis Trichardt), the Roads Agency declared it a matter for the provincial authorities. The Provincial Roads Agency says the matter should be resolved by the MECs for Roads, Public Works and Transport. The spokespersons for these departments have been passing enquiries about the matter to and fro since January this year. The matter has also been brought to the attention of the provincial premier..

In the meantime, several of these heavy vehicles, which were forced to use the narrow road under construction, got into trouble, especially during rainy and wet conditions on the mountain. Some lost their cargos, while at least one co-driver from Zimbabwe lost his life, when his ultra-heavy vehicle got into trouble at a forced stopping point in the mountain pass..

Several runaway heavy vehicles terrorised residents and other motorists on the N1 when they went out of control, while descending the southern side of the mountain into town. Two prominent residents of the town have already been killed in two separate accidents involving heavy vehicles, at N1 intersections in the town. In two recent incidents, motorists at the intersections narrowly escaped with their lives. In one instance, a motorist who saw the on-coming runaway heavy vehicle, speeded ahead and warned motorists at the intersections. In the other, nearly fatal incident, the truck driver displayed almost super-human driving skills and nearly wrecked his vehicle and cargo while taking evasive action alongside the road, after having narrowly missed several vehicles, pedestrians and food vendors. He forced the vehicle to a standstill in a garden area alongside the N1. .

Protest action over the opening of the Baobab Tollplaza on this unfinished and dangerous road, culminated in the opening of an alternative tollgate near Bokmakierie at Mopane. This alternative gate was closed after high-level discussions last week. During the discussions, a senior representative of the National Roads Agency was warned that the alternative tollgate – which drew attention nationwide - was merely a soft option protest action.