President Jacob Zuma will on Saturday, 02 December 2017, officially open the new Dumisani Makhaye Drive (Main Road 577) in Clermont, Durban to public use as part of Government’s nationwide programme of infrastructure development.

According to the KwaZulu Natal Department of Transport the project, which cost R1.3 billion, is the biggest road infrastructure development in the country in five years.

The new road will connect, among others, the communities of Newlands, KwaMashu, Inanda, KwaDabeka, Clermont and Pinetown for the first time. It will also provide an alternative route to the King Shaka International Airport for traffic coming from the Pietermaritzburg and Pinetown areas, which will now ease traffic congestion on the N2/ N3 interchange.

“The completion of the main road works, which paves the way for the use of the road by members of the public, especially motorists, is a major step in the government’s drive to create easy access for communities for socio-economic development,” the department said.

“The Dumisani Makhaye Drive spans the uMngeni River and provides a strategic link between Duffs Road in KwaMashu to Dinkelman in New Germany.  It cuts off a massive 16 kilometers for traffic using N3 to connect to N2, and will help eradicate the legacy of colonialism and apartheid-based spatial planning,” it added.

The official opening will take place at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Clermont, Durban on 02 December 2017.