Govt threatened with legal action over Richards Bay truck congestion
uMhlathuze has threatened to take the departments of Public Enterprises and Transport to court over the growing problem of truck congestion in Richards Bay.
The municipality says aside from the traffic nightmare, it's having to fork out millions in overtime costs to traffic cops roped in to manage the situation.
City Manager Nkosenye Zulu described the increase in trucks carrying goods to the Richards Bay Port as alarming.
He says Public Enterprises and Transport have failed to ensure that Transnet and road networks are functioning properly.
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He says the backlog of trucks queuing on the N2 and John Ross Highway has been a problem for years.
Zulu says in the past, cargo was delivered via trains, and the use of trucks was under control.
"It is sad that the country has a shortage of about 150 locomotives, and of course, the rail network from the mines to Richards Bay has been allowed to dilapidate.
"As the city, we have been on the receiving end of a raw because we seem to be the only state that is raddled with the cost of ensuring that the overall infrastructure is maintained and of course, pay salaries and overtime to traffic officers who have to take care of these trucks."
