Tourism groups call for urgent action on battlefield route infrastructure

The Citizen

10-06-2025

The deteriorating condition of roads across the Umzinyathi District took centre stage during a special District Tourism Forum meeting held recently at the Umzinyathi Municipality offices.
Tourism stakeholders from across the district gathered to engage directly with the KZN Department of Transport, raising urgent concerns about the impact of poor road conditions on the region's historical battlefield tourism routes.
The meeting was chaired by K. Motumi from the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA), with Mr T. Dlamini from the Department of Transport present to hear and respond to the growing frustrations.
There was consensus among the tourism representatives that road neglect is crippling the local tourism sector, once a strong drawcard for both domestic and international travellers.
'There has been a major decline in tourist buses,' said Pam McFadden of Tourism Dundee. 'Operators are pulling out after sustaining damage to their vehicles on our deteriorating roads.'
This decline, stakeholders warned, has had a domino effect. Lodges and B&Bs are shutting down, unable to survive without visitor traffic to historic sites such as Isandlwana, Rorke's Drift, and Blood River.
Heavy trucks transporting commercial goods were also singled out as a major contributor to the damage. Overloaded vehicles continue to break down road surfaces, leaving deep potholes and unsafe driving conditions in their wake.
Douglas Rattray, owner of the well-known Fugitives' Drift Lodge, said many international tourists have cancelled visits due to unsafe roads.
'We've seen a sharp increase in cancellations. Tour operators can't risk their buses or their passengers on these routes anymore,' Rattray said. 'This is not just a tourism issue — it's an economic crisis for the entire district.'
Recently, Rattray, local farmers, community members and a local councillor, Xolani Mkhize, joined forces to patch up the access to Rorke's Drift that had become undrivable following weeks of heavy rain in April with children unable to access schools.
Councillor, farmers and community members join forces to repair Rorke's Drift road after heavy rains
Delegates also highlighted the rampant theft and vandalism of road signage, leaving visitors confused and unable to navigate battlefield routes. The Prince Imperial memorial, site of the death of Louis-Napoléon, the great-nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, has been particularly hard hit by sign thieves. The site, between Nquthu and Mondlo, is isolated and many visitors get lost without the signage.
There was also, sometimes amusing concern over spelling mistakes on signs, with one famously declaring 'Rocks Drift 15km'.
In response, the Department of Transport committed to conducting an audit of road infrastructure in key tourism areas and pledged to prioritise maintenance on high-traffic heritage routes.
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