Road Report - getting to & from Kruger

[Mel]

1st class!

Thanks!

[Flutterby]

Lesley Nyawo‎SANParks - Kruger National Park
6 mins ·

Dear Valued Stakeholders

Pafuri Gate is currently inaccessible due to protests and road blockage on the road R525 leading to the Pafuri Gate.

The cause of the protest and road blockage is not known yet, it is currently being investigated.

Guests that intend to use Pafuri Gate are advised to use Punda Maria Gate as an alternative to enter and exit the park in that region.

[Richprins]

Communities...

[Mel]

Update on the N4: no more Stop and Go encountered when driving on the 08/04/2014

[Richprins]

Is that the Schoemanskloof or Ngodwana option, Mello?

[Mel]

Schoemansklof is the R539 or something, isn't it? Dunno about that one. We stuck to the N4 and were fine

[Flutterby]

No stop and go's on Schoemanskloof road either.

[Richprins]

Road from Nelspruit to Numbi Friday:

Excellent condition!

But beware poorly or non-signaged speed bumps, including home-made ones on the bit before the gate...

[Richprins]

Alert: Phabeni, Numbi and Paul Kruger Gates inaccessible due to taxi protests on R40 in Hazyview

25 January 2018

Visitors to the Kruger National Park are informed that Paul Kruger and Phabeni Gates are temporarily inaccessible today (25 January 2018) due to protests taking place on the road (R40) between Hazyview Police Station and intersection to Kiepersol which is blocked at the moment. Guests are advised to use alternative gates such as Malelane to access or exit the Park until further notice.

Enquiries: Isaac Phaahla, Media Specialist – SANParks. Tel: 012 426 5315, cell 083 673 6974 or email: Isaac.phaahla@sanparks.org.



Taxi dispute is being resolved – R40 open for now
The taxis have dispersed and due to a strong police presence.
7 hours ago

After almost two days of traffic disruption around Hazyview, an agreement between the taxi associations of Hazyview and Bushbuckridge was reached around noon on Tuesday.
However, the unrest continued throughout Wednesday and Thursday. By 11:00 this morning, the road was open, with only one tuck partially blocking the road at Umbhaba. “The police is patrolling Hazyview to prevent further protest action. A meeting between the protesters and the police is currently underway,” said Pieter Burger of Spes-Plan.
According to other sources, the dispute revolved around the use of the routes and rank at Twin City. Operators who service the southern routes towards White River and Numbi Gate felt that those operating from the north were interfering by transporting passengers directly from Bushbuckridge and surroundings to these destinations.

R40 closed due to taxi dispute

On Monday the main roads leading to the Kruger National Park and other Lowveld sightseeing spots had been inaccessible when protesters completely blocked the R40 adjacent to the police station with their minibus taxis.
At the time Reynold Thakhuli, SANParks spokesman, advised tourists to use alternative routes and gates to reach
the park.
Tuesday morning started quietly, while a heavy presence of SAPS and traffic officials was notable at entrances to
the town.
Shortly after 09:00 taxis started to gather again.


Meanwhile, delegates from the different routes gathered at the police station for negotiations. Representatives from other interest groups, such as tourism and hospitality, joined the discussions, since any unrest affects these industries too.
According to participants, it was agreed that no taxi association would be allowed to either block or disturb motorists on the road as of Tuesday.
All associations were going to report back to their respective supporters that as of Thursday, they should revert back to their respective taxi ranks and operate as usual without any fear of any other party interfering.
Twin City Hazyview taxi rank would further be under government control, and therefore all those associations should nominate three representatives to form the management of the taxi rank.
This management group would meet on Thursday to resolve all issues among all taxi associations involved.
While speaking at a meeting with the province’s traffic officers at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday, MEC for the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Pat Ngomane, said the department was monitoring the taxi strike and was willing to work with the various departments to resolve the matter.

https://lowvelder.co.za/420235/taxi-dis ... -open-now/

[Richprins]

Protest at Mataffin: Photo by Nicolene Olkers

UPDATE : January 23,2018.

MBOMBELA – Protesters from Mataffin are currently attempting to block the N4 with burning tyres. Hi-Tech Security Nelspruit response manager Callum Mac Pherson said the protesters had moved further down the N4 this afternoon. The road was cleared for traffic. The protest continues.

MBOMBELA – The 14th annual Van Wetten’s Nite Race, which was scheduled to take place at Mbombela Stadium tonight, has been postponed due to protest action in the area.

The race will now take place on February 7.

See more: Van Wetten’s Nite Race
UPDATE: Mataffin community embarks on protest action, January 24, 10:00

MBOMBELA – The community of Mataffin are demanding to see the mayor to address their grievances. Police Brig Gerrie Agenbach said they had made an arrangement with the protesters to move away from the N4 and continue further into the Mataffin area. ” We have contacted the mayor to come and address them about their problems,” he said.

Community members spoke to Lowvelder and said their ward councillor for ward 14 had allegedly been recently assaulted by people they believe were sent to cause trouble in their area due plans for a parliamentary village to be built there.

The truck on the N4 on the Ring Road has been removed. The protests which occurred this morning near Kabokweni have been dispersed.

The protest now inside Mataffin is still continuing as they await the mayor.

https://lowvelder.co.za/420032/breaking ... s-protest/