Go and Proclaim Ministries South Africa
Home | About us | All Events | Prayer Initiatives | Community Work | Sitemap | Sitemap: Afrikaans | Contact us
 

Pray the News
No work­ing traffic lights any­time soon on dan­ger­ous R75

The Herald 1 Dec 2025



Abstract from the Article

" There seems to be no imme­di­ate plan to build work­ing traffic lights along one of Nel­son Man­dela Bay’s most dan­ger­ous stretches of road — the R75. Coun­cil­lors were told at an eco­nomic devel­op­ment, tour­ism and agri­cul­ture com­mit­tee meet­ing on Fri­day that repair­ing the traffic lights link­ing Kariega, Des­patch and Gqe­berha was the muni­cip­al­ity’s respons­ib­il­ity. However, coun­cil­lors were adam­ant that the respons­ib­il­ity res­ted with the South African National Roads Agency, which is respons­ible for the road but not the traffic lights. Present­ing to the city’s eco­nomic devel­op­ment, tour­ism and agri­cul­ture com­mit­tee on Fri­day, San­ral south­ern region project man­ager Craig Hendricks said a budget of R50m had been set aside for main­ten­ance.

The con­tract is to take care of the N2, the R335 and por­tions of the R75. “This is for nor­mal main­ten­ance meas­ures, road signs, cut­ting of the grass and all of that.” Also included were guard­rails on the R75. The scope of work includes repair­ing slope fail­ures, clean­ing drains, as well as clear­ing bridges and refuse, includ­ing veget­a­tion main­ten­ance. The R75 has been plagued by fatal vehicle acci­dents since April last year, prompt­ing the city to take action on the San­ral-man­aged road. While motor­ists’ driv­ing beha­viour has been blamed as one of the lead­ing causes of acci­dents, all traffic lights on the R75 between Gqe­berha and Kariega, which cuts across vari­ous com­munit­ies, are not work­ing.
Stop signs have been painted on all the inter­sec­tions between KwaD­wesi Exten­sion and the New Brighton and Young Park inter­sec­tion as a deterrent."

Repair Efforts and Outlook

The municipality has included the R75 in a broader citywide program aimed at restoring signalized intersections. This program prioritizes immediate repairs and explores anti-vandalism technologies, such as solar-powered units, tamper alerts, and smart monitoring systems. However, as of late August 2025, no significant repairs had taken place, despite prior commitments. Reports from December 2025 confirm that there are currently no short-term plans for improvements.

Since mid-2025, political pressure has been mounting, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) calling for urgent upgrades and involvement from national transport officials. Yet, bureaucratic obstacles continue to hinder progress. Additionally, incidents like the kidnapping of a SANRAL project manager in June 2025 on a nearby road highlight security challenges that are complicating efforts.

Overall, this situation illustrates deeper issues related to infrastructure and governance in the region, with the R75 becoming a focal point for safety concerns. If conditions change after December 2025, further updates from sources like The Herald or Daily Maverick should be monitored.

Prayer Guidelines Heavenly Father, as it is written in Proverbs 21:1, "The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will," we ask You to turn the hearts of the officials at SANRAL and the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality. Soften their resolve against jurisdictional disputes and bureaucratic delays, guiding them to collaborate swiftly and remove the obstacles hindering repairs on the R75 road, so that progress may flow unhindered for the good of all. Lord God, drawing from Psalm 82:3-4, which calls us to "Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked," we pray for the vulnerable communities along the R75, including children crossing to school and motorists facing daily dangers. Instill in the authorities a sense of urgency to restore traffic lights, guardrails, and other safety measures, protecting lives and delivering Your justice against the perils of neglect and vandalism. Gracious Lord, according to Romans 13:4, "For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer," we beseech You to remind the leaders and councilors involved that they are Your appointed servants for the public good. Empower them to prioritize the safety and well-being of the people in Gqeberha, Kariega, and surrounding areas over disputes or external pressures, ensuring that resources and actions align with Your will to foster peace, employment opportunities, and secure infrastructure for the community.
Compiled by GAP Ministries
Visit our "pray the News" index page here

Why do we need to pray for news events?

Praying for current news events is important for several biblical and practical reasons. Here’s why many Christians see it as a vital part of their faith:

1. God invites us to bring everything to Him
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
Current tragedies, injustices, and crises are part of “everything.” When we hear about fatal accidents on the R75, corruption, bureaucratic delays, or any suffering, God wants us to talk to Him about it instead of just feeling helpless or angry.

2. We are called to intercede for others
Scripture repeatedly commands us to pray for people in trouble and for those in authority:
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life…” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
Praying for the R75 situation is exactly this: interceding for victims, motorists, schoolchildren, frustrated councillors, and SANRAL officials so that decisions are made that lead to peace and safety.

3. Prayer aligns our hearts with God’s heart
News can harden us or make us cynical. Praying keeps our hearts soft and compassionate. It reminds us that people stuck in red tape, thieves stealing cables, grieving families, and overworked engineers are all made in God’s image and loved by Him.

4. God actually uses prayer to change things
5. It fights the spiritual battle behind the visible problems
Many of the issues on the R75 (greed, theft, pride, fear, community division) have spiritual roots. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us we wrestle not just against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces. Prayer is the primary weapon God has given ordinary believers to push back darkness.

6. It keeps us from despair and makes us agents of hope
When we only read the news, we feel powerless. When we pray the news, we partner with the One who raises the dead and still calms storms. Even if we never see the direct outcome, we have obeyed Jesus’ command to “ask the Lord of the harvest” and to keep seeking, knocking, and asking (Matthew 7:7; 9:38).