KZN needs R17bn for roads

Durban - KwaZulu-Natal's transport department needs R17bn to tackle the backlog in road maintenance, the Mercury reported on Friday.

The newspaper quoted transport MEC Willies Mchunu as saying that his department's total annual budget of R9bn was insufficient for the maintenance of the 7 400km under its jurisdiction.

Mchunu, who was addressing the legislature in Pietermaritzburg, said 80% of the province's roads were deteriorating rapidly as they had exceeded their 25 year lifespan.

"While we fare better than other provinces, our rate of poor roads is 43%, far higher than the global benchmark of less than 10%," he was quoted as saying.