A written reply addressed to the Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor, Tjaart van der Walt, shows that the claims were paid between July 2019 and June 2022. The largest amount of money was paid out in the 2021/22 financial year, which is R3 703 994. The least amount of money paid out was R489 582 in the 2020/21 financial year and R940 843 was paid out in the 2019/20 financial year. On the question of how much was spent in litigation related to the claims, the reply states that there were no litigations. In addition, there were also no litigations due to failure to resolve claims within a reasonable time.

ALSO READ: Millions earmarked for road users’ claims

The reply, signed by the current acting City Manager, Tebogo Motlashuping, further states that the municipality has received a total of 434 claims in the last three financial years, and 296 claims are being finalised. 

To the question why the claims have not been finalised, the reply says “the time taken by claimants to submit the required documents, and Engineering Mechanical Services' requirement of having to verify the claim by locating the pothole that caused the damage - prolongs the period of processing the claim.” After that process, an up-to-date municipal rates and taxes account is required – which, according to the reply to Van Der Walt, explains the hurdle of the criterion that holds up the process, “as most residents are in arrears”. 

ALSO READ: Millions spent on Free State roads

Motlashuping’s written reply to Van Der Walt also includes some of the recommended measures that can be taken to make the process run smoothly. Maintenance and/or upgrades of roads; erecting visible warning signs; law enforcement to enforce speed reduction via roadblocks are listed as recommended prevention measures. 

Dedicated officials to address the backlog on the departmental report; the creation of a contingency fund to settle claims that are in excess where a summons/letter of execution has been issued before municipal assets are attached by the sheriff, are points listed as a smooth way of processing claims. 

The last is the creation of a contingency office, which entails locating a Claims Office at the Engineering Services Maintenance Section to improve and expedite accountability; and availing a budget to Legal Services to contest possible fraudulent claims within the excess (R100 000). OFM News is awaiting comment from the municipality.

ALSO READ: #OperationValaZonke: Thousands of potholes repaired in Free State

On the issue of potholes, the Free State has seen 16 540 potholes repaired by the end of August 2022. The potholes were repaired as part of the latest nationwide programme, Operation Vala Zonke, launched by the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula. According to the spokesperson of the Provincial Department of Police, Roads, and Transport, Hillary Mophethe, the roads that have been repaired are mostly in the Fezile Dabi district - as the launch was held in that district. Mophethe stated that there were very little to report in other districts in the province.

Before Operation Vala Zonke, the department had received claims amounting to over R78 million for damages to motorists’ vehicles due to the condition of roads in the province. Out of the R78 million, at least R1.8 million was paid over four previous financial years. Over that period of time, 562 claims had been submitted by motorists to the department. Apart from the money of claims that the department had paid, there is an additional R15 million that they have paid due to legal costs on litigation. The department had previously been in the spotlight after information that over R700 million has been allocated by the department to repairing potholes and cutting grass since 2019. The money was allocated to the Contractor Development Programme (CDP), who were explained to be companies at a different level of training. In some cases work on-site had to be stopped for technicians from the roads district authorities to assist.

OFM News