Central SA
Operation Vala Zonke on track in the Free State─── TSHEHLA KOTELI 13:43 Fri, 04 Nov 2022
The nationwide Operation Vala Zonke, aimed at repairing potholes in South Africa, has seen 40 149 potholes repaired in the Free State.
The provincial spokesperson responsible for the Department of Police, Roads and Transport, Hillary Mophethe, says that from the day of the launch of the programme in August 2022, a total of 14 052 square meter has been completed. “The department is committed to repairing two million potholes by the end of March 2023,” she explains. As far as the issue of the deadline they have set is concerned, Mophethe says despite the financial challenges the department is faced with, the work to close to two million potholes will continue for the period committed.
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At the very beginning of Operation Vala Zonke, the provincial premier, Sisi Ntombela, said she is confident that the province will be pothole-free within the next six months [from the commencement of the programme]. For the launch, Ntombela was with the provincial MEC for Police, Roads and Transport, William Bulwane, who, together with their respective teams, were repairing potholes on the R501 road between Viljoenskoon and Potchefstroom, as well as on the R59 road between Sasolburg and Vanderbjilpark.
Ntombela said that an app has been created by the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral), whereby people will be able to upload pictures of potholes in order for an alert to be captured and logged onto the system so that it can be repaired.
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By the end of August, 16 540 potholes had been repaired in the province. At the time, Mophethe said the roads that have been repaired are mostly in the Fezile Dabi district - as the launch was held in that district.
Months before Operation Vala Zonke, the department had received claims amounting to over R78 million. Those claims were at the time yet to be paid to road users in the province. In a response to a written question by the Democratic Alliance (DA) member of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), George Michalakis, it is stated that at least R1.8 million out of the R78 million has been paid. The claims are for damages to motorists’ vehicles due to the condition of roads in the province. This follows after the department made it known to the public that they can claim for damage to their vehicles caused by potholes.
