Department needs about R600 million to fix roads

The department said the amount is needed annually over a five-year period to bring the entire tourism road network to a functioning condition. “This amount the province cannot afford currently, hence delays in the implementation of most projects,” said the department’s spokesperson, Bongani Dhlamini.

“This has been worsened by budget cuts as government resounded the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the province is aware of the positive impact of the sector on the economy and in particular creating and sustaining jobs, and has therefore prioritised investment in tourism roads infrastructure.”

Dhlamini said this in response to concerns raised by the DA that roads leading to the province’s biggest tourist attractions were in a dilapidated state and therefore had a negative effect on the tourism sector and jobs.

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Bosman Grobler, DA spokesperson on finance and economic development, said, “The roads leading to Mpumalanga’s biggest tourist attraction, the Panorama Route (Hazyview, Graskop, White River, Sabie, Pilgrim’s Rest and Mashishing), the D330/Slaaihoek Road in Waterval Boven in the eMakhazeni Local Municipality, and the roads leading to the Barberton’s Makhonjwa Mountain World Heritage Site, are dangerously riddled with potholes and gravel.

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This discourages potential tourists from visiting Mpumalanga and in the process compromises jobs and job opportunities in the tourism sector.” The party also called on MEC Mohita Latchminarain to take action and fix these roads.

“Tourism and mining are the pillars of Mpumalanga’s economy and employ the most people in the province. But the state of the roads leading to these two sectors are deplorable and needs serious prioritisation. By car it is tough to tour Mpumalanga’s famous tourism areas,” Grobler said.

Dhlamini further stated that the department has prioritised investment in different aspects and initiatives to support the tourism industry.

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“This is beneficial to local communities and businesses. The tourism sector is a major economic contributor to local, regional, provincial and national economy,” he said.

“As such, from the 2017/18 financial year, we started identifying road projects that support the tourism sector. The interventions have included upgrading, rehabilitation and major and routine maintenance of road sections. The identification and prioritisation has been done through a process coordinated by the Mpumalanga Department of Economic Development and Tourism and included tourism sector role players led by the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency and regional tourism chambers.”