Mbalula will be joined by the MEC of Police, Roads and Transport, William Bulwane, and the Mayor of Mangaung, Mxolisi Siyonzana.

The invitation to the ministerial site visit reveals that the reconstruction of Moshoeshoe Road has begun, months after no work has been taking place on the road. During Mbalula’s visit in June, he raised his concerns about the delays in completing the road, one of the busiest in the township.

Mbalula and his entourage will also have a ministerial imbizo with the community around Rocklands.

ALSO READ: Mangaung to be revamped in 100 days

The issue of the Moshoeshoe Road goes a long way back. At the beginning of Siyonzana’s term as Mayor, he outlined his plans for his first 100 days in office, which included completing the reconstruction of Moshoeshoe Road, among other major stalled projects.

He stated at the time that his 100-day plan includes the reopening of main roads to ease traffic flow, the addressing of concerns over failed roads, and the detailing of maintenance projects of roads.

Residents of Bloemfontein have been complaining about the unfinished Moshoeshoe Road for some time. The completion of the road intended to help restore community confidence in municipal leadership. 

ALSO READ: Empty promises to Mangaung residents

However, in June, five months later, the reconstruction process of the Moshoeshoe Road had not begun, despite his 100-day plan. The Auditor-General’s consolidated general report, presented by the business unit leader for Free State, Odwa Duda, stated the metro has forfeited conditional grants worth more than R400 million due to slow project implementation.

The slow implementation of projects also involves the delay in completing some of the road projects in the metro.

ALSO READ: Mangaung pays out millions for pothole damage claims

In the latest, the acting City Manager, Tebogo Motlashuping, revealed in a written reply to DA councillor Tjaart van der Walt, that the metro spent at least R5 million in pothole damage claims to motorists.

The amount of money was paid between July 2019 and June 2022 for some claims - 296 claims are still to be paid out.

The Free State has seen 16 540 potholes repaired by the end of August 2022. The potholes were repaired as part of Operation Vala Zonke. 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 Municipality in the Northern Free State - as the launch was held in that district. Mophethe stated that there were little to report on 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, 562 claims had been submitted by motorists to the department. Apart from the money for claims, an additional R15 million had  been for legal costs. 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.

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