A lack of maintenance has led to all but one Northern Cape weighbridge falling into a state of utter disrepair.

This has further resulted in low revenue collection for the Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison.

“An oversight inspection to the Kimberley Weighbridge this week confirmed long-term neglect. The weighbridge site was exposed and enclosures and building material have been vandalised and are in the process of being carried away,” said DA Northern Cape Spokesperson for Transport, Safety, and Liaison, Reinette Liebenberg.

‘The current budget only makes provision for annual calibration’

The only operational weighbridge is situated in Springbok on the N7, with the remaining two in Colesberg and Upington in a similar state as the Kimberley weighbridge.

“In the absence of functional weighbridges, our roads will continue to deteriorate under overloaded and heavy-duty vehicles and illegal substances will also continue crossing our borders without proper inspections conducted at weighbridges,” added Liebenberg.

The department has revealed to the DA that the current budget only provides for annual calibration and will not be able to carry the costs of repairs and updating technology at these sites.

‘NGO Love Life frequently visits various schools’

Community members often voice their concerns about the road conditions within Northern Cape roads.

“The state of the roads limit my traveling due to some places I travel to, have really bad roads, at times I would have to look for alternative routes to get to my destination, due to potholes,” said Love Life Programme Co-ordinator, Nielton Warnick.

??A lack of maintenance has led to all but one Northern Cape weighbridge falling into a state of utter disrepair, resulting in low revenue collection for the Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison. - Reinette Liebenberg MPL

Read full story here:https://t.co/4FJCTxYvNc pic.twitter.com/XGXqmu4fEw

— DA Northern Cape (@DA_NCape) September 26, 2024

The NGO Love Life frequently visits various schools and other organisations within the Northern Cape, travelling every other week to Pixley Ka Seme District, JTG District as well as ZFM District.

‘It could lead drivers to lose control’

A solution Warnick gave suggests that paving bricks instead of tar should be given thought as tar is known to give way under the pressure of trucks, as well as having a possible trucks-only road as most of the roads have swollen tar because of trucks with their heavy weight.

Warnick mentioned that the roads between Colesberg and De Aar and also between Douglas and Upington, were the ones that required more assistance.

“It could lead drivers to lose control of the vehicles and even drive into other vehicles when they swerve out for potholes.”

‘NC is generally good except for when going to villages’

Another Kimberley resident who frequents the N7; N8; N12; N18; N10; R31 and R64 has said that although roads may still need fixing overall for the past six years he has seen an improvement, but believes the roads within villages need more attention.

“The state of roads in the NC is generally good except for when going to villages (in JTG) where roads are not tarred. In the overall, traveling in the NC is much better and safe,” says Kimberley Resident, Bizzah Mantantana. “Tarring of village roads will make service delivery much accessible, thus benefiting the villagers and saving cost on fixing vehicles (ambulances included).”

OFM News also approached the department of Transport, Safety and Liaison for a comment and are still awaiting feedback.

OFM News/Casey-Lee Anthony cg/mvh