Members of the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Upington took symbolic action on Friday by fishing in a massive hole at the main entrance to the Upington Business Park. The protest highlights the Upington Business Park pothole that has disrupted traffic and frustrated business owners for months.

DA councillor Flip van der Steen says poor construction lies at the root of the problem. He claims the Dawid Kruiper Municipality has failed to deliver a lasting fix despite spending public money.

Symbolic Action Highlights Municipal Road Woes

The DA organised a “toad catch” in the water-filled hole to draw public attention to the ongoing failure. Several residents and business people joined the protest and voiced their support. One passing motorist shouted approval from her vehicle: “There she is! I like what I see.”

Van der Steen led the group and used the moment to criticise the municipality’s handling of the entrance road.

History of Failed Repairs at Upington Business Park

Van der Steen explains that workers built the original road without proper soil compaction. The surface broke up within a week. The municipality repaired and reopened the road at the end of October, yet damage appeared again within days.

Contractors began work on the site in January. The DA says officials promised a two-week repair, but almost no progress has followed. “Grass is already starting to grow in the hole,” Van der Steen notes, showing that compaction work has not taken place as claimed.

Ongoing Access and Security Concerns

Only one access point has remained open for the past three weeks while the main entrance stays blocked. Business owners and clients now face daily inconvenience when they try to reach the park.

The DA also expresses concern about the lack of security measures at the business park, despite earlier promises. Van der Steen calls the entire project a waste of taxpayers’ money and states that around R50 million has been spent with little result.