Repairs to flood-damaged Hoedspruit roads to cost over R100m
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy says more than R100 million will be spent repairing the flood-damaged R40 and R531 roads near Hoedspruit, with temporary access routes planned to restore connectivity to the Kruger National Park while reconstruction continues.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy says repairs to the flood-damaged R40 and R531 roads in Hoedspruit, Limpopo, will cost over R100 million and are expected to take about a year to complete.
The two key routes providing access to the Kruger National Park were severely damaged during the December 2025 and January 2026 floods, leaving some sections washed away and inaccessible.
Creecy spoke during an oversight visit to the affected areas on Tuesday.
She was accompanied by Maruleng Local Municipality Mayor Tsheko Mosolwa.
She said in the interim, the department plans to construct a temporary access road next to the R531, which is expected to take three months to complete, to restore access to the park.
“At the moment, there isn’t a proper detour, meaning tourists have to travel via Acornhoek to reach the open gate. We have engaged (national roads agency) SANRAL, and there are indications that local farmers and lodges are willing to make internal roads available to create a more direct route into the Kruger National Park while construction is underway,” Creecy said.
She added that motorists using the R40 can take an alternative route via Tzaneen while repairs continue.
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Creecy emphasised the strategic importance of the roads, saying they support tourism, agriculture, and mining activities in the region.
“This area is critical, particularly with the movement of heavy vehicles travelling towards Mbombela. It is therefore essential that we restore these roads,” she said.
Plans for cmilate-resilient infrastructure
Creecy said the government will prioritise building climate-resilient infrastructure as part of the reconstruction process.
“We will convene a workshop in August with major infrastructure agencies to address the impact of climate change. The aim is to explore how we can adapt infrastructure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mosolwa said the damaged roads have negatively impacted the local tourism sector.
“It has been a major inconvenience. Tourism depends on accessibility, and without it, visitor numbers decline. Since January, we have seen a sharp drop in hotel occupancy rates, which raises concerns about job security in the sector,” he said, adding that the planned interventions would help restore confidence in the area’s tourism economy.
