Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Sesotho soundbites by Jafta Mokoena MPL and Afrikaans soundbite by Werner Pretorius MPL with image here
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Free State will urgently submit questions to the MEC for Roads and Transport, Mr Jabu Mbalula, regarding the sudden suspension of the province’s road-maintenance programme with the Central University of Technology (CUT) in the Eastern Free State.
This announcement, contradicts the department’s reports to the Portfolio Committee on Roads and Transport, which indicated that the pothole eradication programme was beginning to yield positive results.
It further vindicates the DA’s concerns that slow payments by the Departnent have significantly impacted road infrastructure projects, often delaying road upgrades and maintenance.
It is unacceptable that, while CUT is making progress in improving both the methodology and the materials used for pothole repairs, they are now informed that the programme is being suspended due to an inability by the department to make payments and attempting to avoid further costs.
Communities relying on the R26 between Ladybrand and Hobhouse, and the R103 between Warden and Vrede, will again be the victims of ANC’s poor decision making. Poor road infrastructure directly disrupts economic activity by hindering the movement of goods and services to markets and discouraging investment in and around the affected towns.
The DA understands that road users will face significant risk of accidents and damage to their vehicles, due to this ill-considered decision.
Roads are vital drivers of economic growth, and halting their maintenance undermines the province’s ability to attract investment and create jobs.
The DA will demand that the department immediately reinstate the pothole-eradication programme and present a clear plan for ongoing maintenance to ensure the safety of road users and protect the provincial economy. The DA will continue to force the department to hand over more roads to SANRAL.