The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has refused to set a date for when repairs will start on two of the metro’s busiest roads, which have partially collapsed after heavy flooding in May.
The William Moffett Expressway has partially collapsed at a bridge, and one lane has been closed to traffic. If the condition of the road deteriorates further, it is understood that officials will reduce the four-lane road to a two-lane road.
But while the collapsed section of the William Mofett Expressway has been demarcated with warning signs, the warning signs belonging to Ward 39, the site of the other damaged road, were stolen on a previous occasion. As a result, officials have set up two drums, a piece of plywood and some danger tape over a huge sinkhole in Kabega Road.
A sinkhole in Kabega Road, one of Nelson Mandela Bay’s busiest roads. (Photo: Deon Ferreira) But the red drums are not very visible at night as this section of the road also does not have any streetlights.
“Last weekend, a car hit one of those drums at a very high speed. The drum travelled 350 meters,” Ward 39 councillor Margaret de Andrade said. “I am very worried. You also can’t see what is going on underneath that hole so the road may be collapsing.”
Municipal response
“The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is aware of the damage to a section of the William Moffett Expressway near Walmer Park and understands the concerns raised by residents and road users, particularly in light of the recent adverse weather conditions and forecast rainfall,” said the City’s communication director, Sithembiso Soyaya.
“Firstly, it is important to note that the damage in question occurred less than a month ago as a direct consequence of severe weather conditions that affected parts of the metro. Following the incident, municipal engineering teams conducted assessments and implemented interim safety measures to safeguard road users while detailed investigations and repair planning continue,” he said.
He added that a report on the road damage was sent to the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC).
“The municipality is currently awaiting feedback regarding potential disaster recovery funding from national and provincial government, where applicable and appropriate,” Soyaya said.
“In terms of timelines, it would be premature and irresponsible for the municipality to provide an exact commencement or completion date for permanent repairs at this stage. Infrastructure repairs resulting from disaster-related incidents must follow prescribed legislative and regulatory processes, including detailed technical assessments, cost quantification, engineering design requirements, and, where applicable, engagement with provincial and national disaster management structures regarding potential disaster recovery funding,” he said.
Funding process
In terms of the Disaster Management Act, the NDMC must immediately, after a national disaster has been declared, initiate efforts to assess the magnitude and severity or potential magnitude and severity of the disaster.” The municipality is then required to submit a report on the damage and to verify and quantify damage to infrastructure and municipal services.
These detailed assessment reports and supporting evidence are then submitted to the relevant Provincial Disaster Management Centre for verification and coordination. Further joint assessments may be undertaken by municipal, provincial and national officials where required.
These assessments are then evaluated against applicable disaster management legislation, frameworks and funding criteria.
Only then can a disaster be classified or declared as one in terms of the Disaster Management Act, and that is followed by funding requests that are processed through the prescribed provincial and national government channels.
Only then will funds be allocated, and repair projects can be implemented.
“These processes are designed to ensure accountability, compliance, transparency and prudent expenditure of public funds. As such, disaster-related infrastructure recovery projects cannot simply be implemented immediately without following the required statutory processes,” Soyaya said.
But De Andrade said even without considering national disaster funding it previously took her three years just to get the railings of the bridge near the current collapsed road fixed.
“For the road, we were told without a shadow of a doubt that it will take between six months and a year,” she said.
“Officials assured me that they will make it safe and more visible, but nothing has happened so far,” she said.
Soyaya claimed that the affected areas were “prioritised” and that temporary safety interventions, traffic management measures, regular inspections and ongoing engineering assessments are being undertaken to minimise risks and prevent further deterioration as far as reasonably possible.
“In anticipation of further rainfall, municipal teams remain on high alert across the metro. High-risk infrastructure locations are…
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