By Charlene Robus

   All hopes of an effortless drive to Nelspruit were dashed when the department of roads and transport contradicted recent rumours regarding the upgrade of the R40 to Nelspruit. Many rumours were circulating regarding an alleged R90 million grant to upgrade this notorious section.

   After communicating with the department, the MEC for roads and transport, Fish Mahlalela, released a short statement in which he stated the R40 was being satisfactorily maintained. In contradiction with the department's opinion many regular road users are complaining about the condition of the road. At regular intervals Barberton Times and Lowvelder receive letters of complaint. The road was described by one reader as "a relic of the past" and "a road straight from hell". In another letter a concerned travelling companion wrote, "Driving from Barberton to Nelspruit one sees countless crosses in remembrance of those who have been killed in car accidents."

   There has been a marked increase in traffic volume on this road since many heavy vehicles use it to avoid the N4 toll gates. Impatient drivers overtake heavy vehicles travelling at a pedestrian pace, on blind rises and solid lines. Accidents, of which many are fatal, are common.

   According to Rev Dave Morgan, the official facilitator for the R40 road initiative, statistics on the road are unreliable. In a report on the proposal for the reconstruction of the Barberton/lNelspruit Road (March 2003) statistics obtained by the Barberton SAPS for the years 1997 to 200 1 show an annual average of 62 accidents, 24,6 injuries and 4,6 fatalities occurred on a short section of the road, from Barberton to the Suidkaap Bridge, a distance of approximately 10km.

   More than 5 500 vehicles per hour were counted on the road during a traffic count in 2002. In the report compiled by Morgan, local officials were sceptical of the data and were of the opinion that traffic usage had grown considerably. No comment could be given by the MEC on the estimated number of vehicles that used the road daily.
"Roads are normally designed for a lifespan of 30 years and unfortunately the R40 was designed and built in the 1950s. It is two decades beyond that point and its condition is evidence of that, in that it was not designed to carry the current level of traffic, particularly the heavy vehicles," Morgan said in his report.

   A delivery truck of Tecklands Meat Wholesalers burned out last week Wednesday on the Barberton/Nelspruit Road in front of Green Walkway.

   According to Mark Tecklenburg, owner of Tecklands, the truck had been at BC Diesel in Nelspruit where they'd worked on the diesel pump. He took a driver through to Nelspruit to collect the vehicle and on their way back the incident occurred.

   "I was behind the truck when I saw smoke pouring out from underneath it," he said. The driver, Dennis Mxumalo pulled off the road and tried to throw sand on the flames. When they realised that they were not going to be able to extinguish the fire, Dennis and Mark pushed the truck off the road as far as they could.

   The next moment the whole vehicle was ablaze and the tires exploded. "Someone must have alerted the municipality as the Umjindi fire engine soon arrived. Unfortunately they did not have any foam and the water did not have much effect on the flames," Mark said.

By Dalene Robus

   While most of the Barberton matriculants celebrated their matric- results; which were made available on Saturday, more than 350 'candidates were not so lucky.

   The examination controlling body Umalusi withheld the results of three Barberton schools due to irregularities relating to the examinations.

   Alleged irregular practices took place at Emjindini and Kamhola high schools. The results of the Adult Centre, based at the Ngwane Higher Primary School, were also withheld. The examination scripts of the centre were not available to Umalusi's investigation team in time to be considered.

   Fourteen examination centres in Mpumalanga are being investigated.

   The Umalusi council found that there was evidence of candidates being assisted during the writing of the examinations. In analysing the preliminary 2004 results it was evident that there was an unrealistic improvement at these examination centres.

   According to students at Emjindini High School, teachers allegedly distributed the answer sheets of certain subjects during the exams.

   At Kamhola High there was allegedly not always proper invigilation during examinations.

   The MEC for education, Siphosezwe Masango apologised to students for the inconvenience they had suffered, when he released the Mpumalanga results on Saturday. He said the majority of pupils did not write with the intention of cheating. "There is no way in which we could have announced results tainted with alleged irregularities such as cheating and fraud," he said.

   The 2004 pass rate of 61,8% was 3,8% higher than last year.

   According to Thomas Msiza spokesman for the Mpumalanga education department, the results of the affected schools will only be made available once the investigation has been completed.

   It seems that the future of promising pupilsfrom these schools will be compromised as many higher education institutions are already in the process of selecting students for certain study directions.

   An advisory support centre was established to assist those who might experience admission or registration problems at institutions of higher learning.

   It can be be reached at the toll-free number 0800-203-116.

   In their reaction to he irregularities the school principals, Joe Ntuli (Kamhola) and Charles Msibi (Emjindini) said they were waiting for more information from the department of education before they could comment.

Nomsa Nabike of the Adult Centre could not be reached for comment.