The DA in Limpopo will write to MEC for Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure, Ernest Rachoene, to urgently engage SANRAL on the terrible state of the R527 road in the Maruleng area.
The R527 road from Hoedspruit to the Oaks which was recently transferred to SANRAL in November 2024 has been poorly maintained and is now riddled with large, deep potholes that have caused major damage to vehicles and have the potential to cause serious accidents. In fact, on Monday there was a serious accident on this road that involved a minibus taxi transporting children from the Drakensig primary school, colliding with the trailer of a heavy vehicle on the R 527 near Snake Park and resulted in multiple serious injuries.
The R527 is an essential road in the area and is the only direct link between Hoedspruit and the Oaks. This road services more than 70 000 commuters from the rural areas in Maruleng to Hoedspruit and to the main provincial road in the area, the R40.
The R527 is of great economic significance in the area and is key to tourism and farming activities. The failure to maintain the roads is hampering local economic development and the accessibility of services for residents.
Although recently transferred to SANRAL the R527 road’s terrible condition demonstrates the general failure of the Limpopo Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure to provide appropriate provincial road infrastructure for safe road use and economic growth in the province.
The DA cares about the safety of road users and is committed to ensure that residents have access to provincial road infrastructure that is safe and supports economic development