Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Jose Coetzee and Sesotho soundbite by Jafta Mokoena MPL.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) Setsoto Caucus will submit urgent questions to the Free State MEC for Roads and Transport, Mr Jabu Mbalula, regarding the unexplained suspension of roadworks and maintenance along the R708 between Marquard and Clocolan in the Eastern Free State.
The DA seeks immediate clarification and an action plan to ensure the swift resumption and completion of this vital project.
Oversight inspections conducted by the DA Setsoto Caucus on Friday, 3 October and Sunday, 5 October 2025, revealed a complete absence of workers on site. No activity was observed at roadworks areas, nor at various road sign installations, raising serious concerns about the project’s status and future.
We have continuously monitored this critical route due to its significant economic impact on farmers, businesses, and local communities. The lack of visible progress, coupled with the questionable quality of the repairs already completed, suggests mismanagement and raises doubts about the contractor’s ability to meet the agreed-upon project deadlines and quality standards.
It is known that delayed payments by the Department of Roads and Transport have previously disrupted the project timeline. Yet, the continued lack of communication and accountability only worsens the situation.
Earlier in the project, local farmers and members of taxi associations took to closing the R708 road, demanding a meeting with the MEC and submitting a memorandum of demands. On that occasion, Mr Mbalula failed to appear, delegating the matter to departmental officials who accepted the memorandum on his behalf.
A key outcome of those engagements was the agreement to hold regular stakeholder meetings, an undertaking that has since been quietly abandoned without any valid justification.
We are deeply concerned that residents and businesses who rely on the R708 will once again bear the brunt of the ANC government’s failure to prioritise service delivery. Inadequate and deteriorating road infrastructure severely disrupts local economic activity, limits access to markets, and deters much-needed investment in the region.
Moreover, unsafe road conditions place road users at heightened risk of accidents and costly vehicle damage. Roads are not just a matter of transport; they are a cornerstone of economic growth and development. Suspending their maintenance directly undermines the province’s ability to foster job creation and financial resilience.
We will request that a call be made to MEC Mbalula to urgently account for the status of the R708 project, explain the absence of workers, provide updates, payments made to date, and a clear action plan to resume and complete the roadworks without further delay.