R400m bill for KZN's weathered roads
2011-07-28 21:20
Kwadukuza - The economic cost of road closures caused by snow falls in KwaZulu-Natal is an estimated R400m, Co-operative Governance MEC Nomusa Dube said on Thursday.
Traffic authorities had estimated that goods valued at R10m travel along the N3 every hour, she said.
"The road was closed for 40 hours and that means that the cost of road closures may be estimated in the region of R400m."
Snowfalls closed major KwaZulu-Natal roads, resulting in massive economic loss. Dube had been told there were 150 trucks per kilometre when the N3 road re-opened on Wednesday after it was closed due to snow.
She had dispatched a team to assess the needs of the communities affected by the snowfalls and rain.
Mpendle, Richmond and Mkhambathini were affected by rain. "At least nine houses were completely destroyed affecting 30 people,” Dube said.
Twenty houses had been completely destroyed and 144 houses partially destroyed in Ilembe district municipality and Kwadukuza local municipality.
Dube also visited the family of Xolani Gwala who died when a house collapsed on him at Durban's Kennedy Road informal settlement.
"The accident was unfortunate but as government we are committed to help the family with funeral arrangements," said Dube during the visit.
- SAPA
