Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Dulandi Leech MPL and Sesotho soundbite by David Masoeu MPL
The Democratic Alliance in the Free State has lodged a formal complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission over the deteriorating condition and inadequate maintenance of key rural roads across the province.
The complaint concerns the R709 between Winburg and Excelsior, the R720 between Koppies and Edenville, and the S629, S636 and S1045 outside Bothaville.
These roads are not simply a matter of potholes or poor service delivery. Where roads become impassable, ambulances cannot reach patients, police struggle to respond to emergencies, workers cannot reach their jobs and farmers cannot transport livestock and produce. This directly affects the ability of voters and rural communities to access healthcare, emergency services, employment, education and economic opportunities.
The situation on the R709 is particularly concerning, with ambulances reportedly unable to access certain areas and a farm worker reportedly dying in early September following inadequate access. The R720 is regularly flooded and rendered impassable because of damaged drainage infrastructure, while the roads outside Bothaville are reported to be in extremely poor condition.
The DA believes that residents should not be denied meaningful access to essential services because government has failed to maintain the infrastructure they depend on.
We have therefore asked the SAHRC to investigate whether the failure to maintain these roads and prevent foreseeable harm amounts to an infringement of residents’ human rights, and to recommend appropriate redress.
The DA will continue pursuing accountability from the responsible authorities until these roads are properly addressed.