Weighbridge deadlock 'is killing Middelburg'

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Tourism and business in Middelburg in the Eastern Cape has come to a complete standstill following excavation works in Meintjies Street.

Heinrich Muller, MPL and Midlands Constituency leader, says the delays by the Middelburg Integrated Traffic Control Centre are having devastating effects on the Middelburg economy.

He mentions that the deserted construction site of the Middelburg Integrated Traffic Control project, also known as the ITCC/Weighbridge Project, has resulted in almost all traffic from the northern parts of the country completely bypassing the town for the past two months.

"Many local businesses in Middelburg, reliant on tourism, holidaymakers and transporters, have been placed under huge financial strain as the diminished traffic has resulted in motorists taking their business elsewhere."

The excavation work on Meintjies Street forms the core of the problem. This has made the road impassable since the site was abandoned in May this year. Businesses situated along this road are currently not accessible to the public.

It is alleged that a dispute exists between the contractor, the Transport Department, and the Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality, with non-compliance notices being issued. The situation is exacerbated by workers and suppliers not being paid.

Muller says that the DA believes in the rule of law, and that processes need to be followed, but this cannot lead to the entire town being punished for a contractor's alleged failure to comply.

He has written to Transport MEC Xolile Nqatha to request his urgent intervention. "While the legalities are being attended to between the contractor, the municipality and the department, the MEC must ensure that the excavations in Meintjies Street are repaired and the road reopened. The reality is that Middleburg cannot afford this road closure any longer. Many businesses are on the brink of reducing their staff or working hours, which will place an enormous financial burden on many families in Middelburg," he says.

Muller will ask the MEC to ensure that the disputes are resolved as soon as possible and that the weighbridge project be completed. This initiative will play a significant role in ensuring that freight vehicles are not overloaded, which will go a long way in preserving existing road infrastructure in the region.

Scenes of devastation in Meintjies Street Middelburg.