Langeni Pass connecting Ugie to Mthatha closed due to safety concern

Due to serious safety concerns, the Eastern Cape Department of Transport has taken a tough but necessary decision to close the Langeni Pass on the R412 road, which branches off the R61 connecting Ugie and Mthatha.

Spokesperson for department of transport, Unathi Binqose said the decision to close the 17km pass has been taken after several messages were received from locals warning of the imminent danger. 

He said their concerns were further endorsed by the department’s road engineers. 

“Preliminary investigations indicate that the damage is partly due to the steep and mountainous topography where this road is constructed. As well as the heavy-duty trucks, often fully loaded with logs and farm produce,” said Binqose.

“Also, severe floods possibly related to climate change has over the years appear to have been eating away on the very ground the pillars of the pass are anchored in. All this has seemingly fast tracked the damage on the road.”

He added that this has resulted in the formation of transverse and longitudinal cracks and displacement and sagging of the road, deeming the pass a serious safety hazard for anyone using it hence the decision to close.

Binqose said this is one of the major commercial routes in the province, connecting the farming areas of Ugie, Langeni and Maclear known for the vast forest plantations and sawmills to Mthatha for further distribution to domestic and overseas markets.   

According to him, the date for re-opening of this road will be communicated in due time.   

Binqose said a plea has been made to locals, businesses and road users in general to respect the decision, obey road signs and law enforcement officers for alternative routes.

MEC for Department of Transport, Xolile Nqatha has acknowledged the impact this closure will have on businesses. 

Nqatha said preventing any possible catastrophe and human lives superseded everything else.

“The impact this will have on businesses in that area cannot be denied. However, we take comfort in the fact that it is the locals themselves who were among the first to raise the alarm on this imminent danger,” said Nqatha.

“While it remains closed, this will allow SANRAL engineers whom we have roped in to conduct a thorough investigation and come up with an investigation on how best we can get the pass operational again.”