The Powers That Be’s Bridges to Nowhere: A Tale of Wasted Billions and Forgotten People

The Umzimkulu Bridge Fiasco: A Symbol of Incompetence

Let’s begin on the banks of the Umzimkulu River in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), where the Powers That Be have squandered millions on a futile attempt to “fix” the Umzimkulu Bridge. The river mouth, a dynamic natural force, shifts and closes on its own, rendering months of earthmoving equipment, spotters, and white sandbags—now polluting the ocean and river—utterly ineffective. The contractor has abandoned the site, equipment is being removed, and the bridge remains closed to the public.

This closure has devastated local communities. A small back road, unprepared for heavy traffic, now carries trucks, buses, and the entire north-south flow of KZN’s coastal population. Traffic jams stretch up to 5 kilometers during rush hours, choking Port Shepstone’s economy and frustrating residents. The failure here isn’t just financial—it’s a betrayal of those who rely on this lifeline daily.

Fact-check: The Umzimkulu River is one of South Africa’s last significant free-flowing rivers, with no major dams, making it ecologically vital but resistant to artificial control. The stabilization attempts ignored natural flood-pulse dynamics, as noted by environmental experts, ensuring failure from the outset.

The Umzimkulu Weir: A New Threat to a Priceless River

Worse still, the Powers That Be, alongside local developers and lobbyists, are pushing a new bid to build a weir across the Umzimkulu River. The aim is to prevent saline intrusion and secure water abstraction for the Lower South Coast, from Hibberdene to Mpenjati. Critics, including Green Net, argue this could cause irreversible damage, disrupting the river’s natural bed, banks, and flow. Risks include sedimentation, habitat loss, and pollution, echoing failures like Emfuleni’s sewage crisis.

As KZN’s last free-flowing river of consequence, the Umzimkulu supports biodiversity, fisheries, and tourism. The weir proposal, linked to industrial interests like the SAPPI Saiccor mill, ignores sustainable alternatives. With the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) ongoing in 2025, public opposition is crucial.

Act now to stop this—object via https://www.weareza.com/environment/kzn/umzimkulu, where EIA deadlines may apply.

Neglected Water Infrastructure: Fix the Leaks First

Why invest in a destructive weir when water infrastructure is crumbling? In Port Shepstone and the Ugu District, the system is plagued by leaks due to years of neglected maintenance. Residents face nonstop outages from bursts, equipment failures, and vandalism. In Harding, water runs brown, dirty, and foul-smelling from taps, posing health risks.

The crisis stems from poor maintenance, not scarcity—available water is lost to leaks and inadequate storage. During the dry season, up to 70% of some areas rely on rivers. The focus on new projects over repairs wastes resources and endangers communities.

The Msikaba and Mtentu Bridges: A Disputed Route with Uncertain Gains

Turn to the Eastern Cape’s Wild Coast, where the Msikaba and Mtentu Bridges are part of the N2 Wild Coast Road project, managed by the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL). The Msikaba Bridge costs approximately R1.75 billion, and the Mtentu Bridge around R4 billion (after delays increased initial estimates from R2.5 billion). The total project exceeds R15 billion, with construction ongoing by Chinese-local joint ventures after contract shifts—a sign of mismanagement.

The promised benefit? SANRAL claims the coastal route will reduce travel time between Durban and East London by 1.5 to 3 hours, potentially saving up to 85 km. However, a calculation of 29 km aligns with the SANRAL-preferred route segment from Mtentu to Mtamvuna Bridges (32 km, per the map), and local disputes over the inland alternative route through Lurholweni cast doubt on the final distance saved. The Amadiba Crisis Committee (ACC) opposes the coastal route, arguing it disrupts community-owned land, rich agricultural areas, and sensitive biodiversity. They propose an inland route (145 km) that avoids these issues but adds about 13 minutes to travel time.

In Lurholweni, the ACC’s plan highlights existing R61 development, safety concerns from narrow roads, and the need for pedestrian bridges and slower speeds. SANRAL’s inland option relocates structures and promises job opportunities, but the route remains contested. With no final alignment agreed, the actual distance saved—whether 29 km or more—remains uncertain, and costs per kilometer (around R176 million) suggest inefficiency. Transnet, led by individuals appointed under the current administration, has struggled with similar inefficiencies, contributing to the broader infrastructure mess.

Environmental and Community Concerns

The coastal N2 route threatens protected marine environments and critical biodiversity areas, per the ACC. It could boost titanium mining, reviving efforts after “Bazooka” Radebe’s 2016 murder linked to mining opposition. The Nelson Mandela Trust’s court wins have pushed haul roads inland, clashing with tourism framing by those in power. Uncontrolled development and illegal sand mining further endanger the region.

Transnet’s Legacy of Failure

Transnet’s mismanagement extends beyond bridges. In Port Shepstone, an illegal dump along the Umzimkulu’s south bank, from Spillers to the ocean, poisons the river. A public meeting saw officials arrive late, waste time, and eject the press—mirroring Transnet’s struggles with incompatible new trains on old tracks, a failure tied to leadership appointed by the Powers That Be. Rural areas like the former Transkei lack safe roads, a deliberate neglect of their communities.

The Umtata Bridge: Another Failure

The Umtata Bridge to Coffee Bay, damaged by floods this year, remains unrepaired, stranding residents. Near Xolabeni, locals fixed a crossing with picks and spades, unnoticed by the Powers That Be, showcasing community resilience over official neglect.

The Betrayal of the People

The voter base—rural communities like those in Transkei and Umzimkulu—is South Africa’s most forsaken. Facing water outages, dirty taps, and poor roads, they remain unaware of the mismanagement. Billions wasted on bridges, weirs, and neglected infrastructure could have brought jobs and hope. Instead, the Powers That Be enrich elites while leaving the poor behind.

We cannot trust the Powers That Be with our money. Their record—Umzimkulu Bridge, weir bid, water neglect, disputed N2 routes, and Umtata Bridge—shows waste, corruption, and neglect. It’s time to demand change.

A Call to the People

To the people of Umzimkulu, the Wild Coast, and beyond: you deserve better. Your voices matter. Unite—Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, English—to demand transparency and development. Share this story, object to the weir and N2 plans, and push for maintenance. Let’s build a future where our money serves us, not those in power.

Stay tuned for a video and comic version in English, Zulu, Afrikaans, and Xhosa.

Sardines and Sighting Maps

Check out our annual Sardine Run Map! Download our app to your phone or device, accept notifications, and you will never miss a single  sardine.

Here are the links to existing and past  Sardine Sighting Maps…

2025 Sardine Map

2024 Sardine Map

2023 Sardine Map

2022 Sardine Map

2021 Sardine Map

Channels

Brucifire Surf Retorts – highly entertaining  surf reporting

Master Watermen – news from way down deep

The Sardine News – neva miss a single  sardine

FishBazaruto – 1000 pounds plus

MYDO Tackle Talk – highly technical  sport fishing

Surf Launching Southern Africa – getting out there safely

Water Woes – complain about your municipality