Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Dr Igor Scheurkogel MP, and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Stone Makhema. See attached pictures here and here.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will write to the Free State MEC for Police, Roads and Transport and has submitted a formal PAIA application to the Free State Provincial Government to secure answers on the completion of the Magrieta Prinsloo Bridge on the R716 and the urgent repair of associated road safety infrastructure.
This intervention follows a recent oversight inspection outside Oranjeville, where we observed with concern the long-standing failure to finalise the bridge upgrade and the deteriorating condition of safety infrastructure on this critical route. At both bridge entrances, side barriers are damaged or missing, posing a serious risk to motorists.
The existing bridge is a narrow, single-lane steel structure over the Vaal Dam. In 2013/14, the Free State Department of Police, Roads and Transport allocated R100 million under its Infrastructure Enhancement Programme and R150 million through the Road Maintenance Grant for the construction of a new, wider bridge, with work scheduled between April 2012 and March 2017.
The integrated development plan for Metsimaholo Local Municipality later highlighted the ongoing need to upgrade the Magrieta Prinsloo Bridge, noting that the scenic R716 corridor to Frankfort requires improvement for tourism and accessibility. Despite these allocations and clear community priorities, the project remains unfinished.
We have also submitted a formal request under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) to the Free State Provincial Government. This application seeks all records explaining why the bridge-upgrade project, funded and scheduled between 2012 and 2017, was halted.
We also request documents relating to contractor appointments, progress reports, budget expenditures and any reasons for delays or terminations. Transparency is vital to rebuild trust and ensure accountability.
The Magrieta Prinsloo Bridge is more than a local crossing; it is a strategic gateway to tourism, commerce and social connectivity. The current single-lane structure poses a daily hazard.
The DA urges the provincial government to ensure the safety of road users, complete the new bridge, and maintain all associated safety infrastructure.