The DA in Maruleng’s sustained pressure has led to the commencement of the R531 road detour project after flood damage to a section of the R531 Orpen Road earlier this year.
Work officially commenced with the clearing of bushes along the Orpen Road and road grading operations began yesterday, marking the first visible phase of construction of the temporary detour. View photos here, here and here.
This follows engagements that started in June with SANRAL, representatives from local businesses and other stakeholders to discuss the way forward in establishing a safe temporary detour on the R531 Orpen Road. This engagement also included approaching a private engineer to assist with a survey of the proposed detour route to ensure that it complies with the required safety and legal standards.
The National Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, visited Hoedspruit on 22 July to assess the flood damage and following this visit, SANRAL granted permission for the community to proceed with preparations for a temporary detour. The community was still awaiting final confirmation and implementation timelines, while the tourism sector, local businesses and residents remained significantly affected by the R531 road closure.
Following my further communication with Minister Creecy on 14 August 2026, confirmation was received that work would commence on 18 August 2026. Local lodges, farmers, businesses and community members had also confirmed their willingness to contribute towards implementing this interim solution.
Although there is now tangible progress, the situation is not yet resolved, and the temporary detour still needs to be completed and made safe and functional. The DA solution, if elected to govern in the upcoming elections would be to prioritise the maintenance and upgrading of municipal roads through ensuring sufficient budget allocation for upgrading road infrastructure through grants and leveraging PPPs where appropriate.
The DA remains committed to continued cooperation with all relevant stakeholders until a safe temporary detour is in place and permanent rehabilitation of the R531 is completed. Appreciation is extended to all stakeholders who have contributed towards finding a workable solution.