Municipal Statement On The Opening Of Phase 2 Of The P318 Sani Pass Road On The 18 October 2022:

Phase 2 consists of a 11.4 km road from the Good Hope to the South African Border Post, on full completion of the Sani Pas road, it will decrease the traveling distance between Durban and Mokhotlong from 621 km to 304 km.

The Sani Pass road fulfils an important international trade, service and tourism function. This road connects Mokhotlong in Lesotho with our towns of Himeville and Underberg.

The Sani Pass road is only accessible to all-terrain vehicles currently, which inhibits economic development as the movement of goods is hindered by the condition of the road.

 

South Africa’s economic reconstruction and recovery plan highlights large-scale infrastructure development as one of the key actions towards rebuilding an economy that has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This project will serve to not only open up the Thaba Tseka-Mokhotlong-Sani Pass-Himeville-Underberg-Pietermaritzburg corridor, but it will also provide access to the Maloti Transfrontier Park and the World Heritage Site thereby promoting tourism in this region.

 

Its impact will be biggest in terms of opening up access to South African markets for Lesotho, the reduction of transport costs to local traders, the reduction in the costs of consumer goods in this area and in the stimulation of local economic development.

The importance of this Pass must not be underestimated. The primary task facing transport systems is the need to accommodate growing demands through population growth and migration, urban development and increased capacity in trade and commodity flows within limited boundaries.