Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Sesotho soundbites by Cllr Tumelo Rammile and Afrikaans soundbite by Cllr Raynie Klaasen. See attached pictures here, here, and here.
The DA in Mangaung is deeply concerned about the total collapse of gravel road maintenance in Thaba Nchu.
Residents across Thaba Nchu Trusts, villages and townships have been left stranded. Gravel roads have been completely washed away following heavy rains, while those that remain are riddled with dongas, erosion and dangerous potholes.
Taxis refuse to operate, learners cannot get to school, and emergency vehicles cannot reach homes. Even public transport operators like Interstate Bus Lines have stated that Mangaung’s unmaintained roads are damaging buses and making it impossible to transport commuters.
This crisis is not an accident.
It is a direct result of ANC mismanagement: The Auditor-General has exposed that only 2% of Mangaung’s infrastructure budget is spent on maintenance, far below the required 8% norm.
In comparison, over 60% of Mangaung’s roads are in poor condition, with a R7.5 billion rehabilitation backlog.
While Mangaung builds new projects, it refuses to maintain existing infrastructure – a pattern the AG has flagged as a core reason for service delivery collapse.
Rural towns like Thaba Nchu, Botshabelo, Wepener and Dewetsdorp continue to be overlooked, with no real plans in place to address roads, water, or refuse removal.
The DA will write to the Municipal Manager, Mr Sello More, and Executive Mayor, Cllr Gregory Nthatisi, to demand:
- An immediate and public grading and re-gravelling schedule for all gravel roads in Thaba Nchu;
- The urgent deployment of graders to critical routes in Selosesha, Bultfontein, Rooifontein, Mokwena, Feloana and surrounding Trusts within 7 days;
- Full disclosure of the rural roads maintenance budget, expenditure in Thaba Nchu for 2024/25, and fleet deployment logs;
- A proper stormwater drainage plan to prevent future wash-aways.
For too long, Thaba Nchu residents have been treated as second-class citizens in their own Metro. They pay for services they do not receive.
The DA will conduct oversight visits to affected roads this week and will escalate the matter to the Free State COGTA MEC and the Provincial Legislature if Mangaung fails to act.
The residents of Thaba Nchu deserve roads that are safe, passable and dignified.