Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Jacques van Rensburg and Sesotho soundbite by David Masoeu MPL.
- DA petitions province over broken testing facilities
- Broken equipment leaves Xhariep vehicles untested
- Springfontein staff face unacceptable conditions
The DA will petition the Free State Department of Police, Roads and Transport to urgently intervene in the shocking state of vehicle testing facilities in the Xhariep District, following an oversight visit conducted this week.
Our findings reveal broken testing equipment, unsafe working conditions and a failure by the ANC-led provincial government to maintain essential infrastructure that protects residents and road users.
Our oversight revealed that the brake-testing and roadworthy machines at both Bethulie and Springfontein are broken and have been left unrepaired for months. As a result, these stations are completely unable to conduct roadworthy tests.
This failure forces residents to travel long distances to towns such as Fauresmith, Smithfield, or anywhere they can find a functioning testing station. This is not only an inconvenience, but it is a direct cost burden on already struggling households and small businesses, who must spend additional money and time to access an essential government service.
Despite the infrastructure collapse, the staff at these facilities continue to do their utmost to assist the public. Their dedication is commendable, but the conditions they are forced to work under are unacceptable.
At Springfontein, it came to light that the toilets are inoperable due to a complete lack of water, and nothing is being done to alleviate the situation. Staff are expected to work full days without access to basic sanitation. This violates human dignity and clearly shows government indifference.
The DA will formally petition the Free State Department of Police, Roads and Transport to urgently:
- Repair and restore all broken brake‑testing and roadworthy machines.
- Address the water and sanitation crisis at Springfontein.
- Conduct a full audit of maintenance contracts and schedules.
- Implement emergency measures to ensure staff dignity and public safety.
The provincial government cannot continue ignoring the collapse of essential compliance infrastructure. Vehicle testing stations are not optional; they are critical for road safety, law enforcement, and public protection.
When testing stations fail, unsafe vehicles remain on the road. Rural roads already carry high accident risks, and the inability to test vehicles locally only worsens the situation. The ANC government’s failure to maintain these facilities directly endangers the lives of residents, farmers, workers, and families across Xhariep.
The DA will continue to expose service delivery failures and fight for the dignity of staff and the rights of residents. We will not allow the provincial government to hide behind excuses while essential infrastructure collapses.
Communities deserve functioning testing stations, safe roads, and a government that respects both the public and its own employees.