M27 (Durban)
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Short description|Metropolitan route in eThekwini, South Africa}}
{{Infobox road
| country = ZAF
| type = DM
| route = 27
| maint = eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality
| length_km = 23
| terminus_a = {{Jct|country=ZAF|DM|25}} near Inanda
| terminus_b = North/South Beach Road in eMdloti
| direction_a = West
| direction_b = East
|towns= Buffelsdraai, Redcliffe, Verulam, eMdloti
| previous_type = DM
| junctions = {{Jct|country=ZAF|R|102}} in Verulam
{{Jct|country=ZAF|N|2}} near eMdloti
{{Jct|country=ZAF|DM|4}} near eMdloti
| next_type = DM
| previous_route = 26
| next_route = 29
| length_ref =
}}
The M27 also known as Jabu Ngcobo Drive or Old Inanda Road is a metropolitan route in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa linking Inanda to Verulam and eMdloti, north of Durban.{{Cite web |title=Jabu Ngcobo Dr · South Africa |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Jabu+Ngcobo+Dr,+South+Africa/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x1ef71b24566dad77:0xb5f8e9a845e62149?entry=gps&lucs=47062708&g_ep=CAESCjExLjU3LjQ4MDEYACCIJyoINDcwNjI3MDhCAlpN |access-date=15 February 2023 |website=M27 road (Durban) · South Africa |language=en}}
Route
The M27 begins at the intersection with the M25 (Mafukuzela Highway; to Inanda and KwaMashu) and Mazwezulu Road (to Osidisweni) just outside Inanda. It runs eastward towards the coast, passing through sugarcane fields and the rural areas of Buffelsdraai and Redcliffe before reaching Verulam.
It then intersects the R102 (Gopalall Hurbans Road; to oThongathi and Mount Edgecombe) south of Verulam’s CBD, then turns right onto Ireland Street, continuing through Verulam and the nearby township of Waterloo. The route meanders through rolling sugarcane plantations fields, intersects the N2 highway (to King Shaka International Airport, KwaDukuza and Durban) at Exit 190 and shortly after meets the M4 highway (Leo Boyd Highway; to Ballito and uMhlanga). Finally, it passes the Sibaya Coastal Precinct and terminates at the traffic circle with North/South Beach Road in eMdloti.{{Cite web |title=Jabu Ngcobo Drive, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |url=https://za.geoview.info/jabu_ngcobo_drive,45669654w#:~:text=Jabu%20Ngcobo%20Drive%20is%20next,ref:%20M27 |access-date=15 February 2023 |website=za.geoview.info}}
History
In 2008, it was proposed that the road be named after Jabu Ngcobo,{{Cite news |date=15 May 2008 |title=Durban street renaming proposals |language=en |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/durban-street-renaming-proposals-400532 |access-date=17 February 2023}} who worked with the ANC.{{Cite book |title=Racism, ethnicity and media in Africa. Mediating Conflict in the 21st century |publisher=I.B. Tauris and Co |year=2015 |pages=96|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kbeKDwAAQBAJ|editor=Mano, Winston}} The eThekwiki Municipality assumed maintenance of the road from the KZN Department of Transport in 2017, following driver concerns that the road was not properly maintained.{{Cite news |date=8 October 2017 |title=City to take charge of neglected roads |work=Sunday Tribune |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1948004732|id={{ProQuest|1948004732}} }} In 2019, there were more concerns expressed about the number of potholes on the road and the lack of response from the KZN Department of Transport.{{Cite news |last=Nkosinathi |first=Dube |title=Community calls for end to pothole woes |page=3 |work=Coastal Weekly |publication-place=Tongaat, South Africa}} In 2021, a resident expressed concerns that streetlights on Jabu Ngcobo Road not working were contributing to crime in the area.{{Cite news |last=Moodley |first=Janine |date=23 June 2021 |title=Areas are in darkness, people live in fear |work=Post |url=https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/post-south-africa/20210623/281655373037444}}