Even though the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) has repeatedly warned and called on the Western Cape provincial government, the Drakenstein Municipality and the Cape Winelands District Municipality to implement more stringent measures to prevent heavy vehicles from using the Bainskloof Pass, its requests have fallen on deaf ears.
The Pass had been closed for all traffic since 10 July 2026 so repair work could be done after floods recently caused significant damage to the roads, and specifically the Pass itself.
The Pass was reopened for traffic a mere ten days ago and since then, two trucks got stuck over the weekend.
Meanwhile, the relevant spheres of government are passing the responsibility for addressing the problem back and forth, with no one willing to take ownership.
Moreover, the Freedom Front Plus has tabled several proposed solutions, but unfortunately, there is no political will to improve matters and, in so doing, also preserve the Pass.
The number of work hours lost through efforts to get trucks back on the road runs into millions – a bill that taxpayers are left to foot.
It is time for the relevant role players to shoulder their responsibility and decisively address the problem.
