While the wind is heaven to kite surfers in Langebaan, it is hell to shop owners, visitors and pedestrians who have been braving the sand, dust and detours due to the prolonged road construction work for many months now.
Especially the entrance to Langebaan has been looking like a war torn zone since April with heaps of sand and dust covering every surface, and testing shop owners’ patience and endurance. Just when everyone thought the worst was over, another section of the road is chopped up and new construction work starts all over again – a seemingly never ending nightmare.
A new kid on the block, UNIQUE, had to close its doors against the onslaught of dust and sand today . . . and not surprisingly, just one guest turned up for the festive Men’s Networking Occasion – an initiative for local business men to meet, exchange ideas and network in a relaxing environment. The detours to access Unique and surrounding shops and the blowing sand and dust are taking a huge toll – shops and merchandise have to be swept and dusted constantly, staff members suffer from sore throats and sinus infections and customers go shop in more pleasant surroundings that are easy accessible.
The cumulative cost of this poorly planned road construction work in terms of fuel, time and loss of customers/income due to all the detours and blocked entrances must be millions by now . . . ? 
On the last photo, a disheartened Alwyn looks at the massive trucks and construction work outside UNIQUE where local business men were supposed to gather and network tonight . . .
* Owners of the beleaguered shops that were completely cut off from the main traffic and who had claimed compensation for loss of income from the Saldanha Bay Municipality, have not heard a work in this regard – leaving them no choice but to continue with legal action.
Road Rage turns to legal WAR in Langebaan. . . STILL no answers