The promise was made by former premier Sisi Ntombela and axed MEC of Community Safety, Roads and Transport, William Bulwane, during the provincial launch of the nationwide Operation Vala Zonke on 8 August 2022. 

While she was still the provincial premier, Ntombela said within six months the province must be pothole-free. It has been weeks since the deadline passed and there are still areas in the province with potholes. An inquiry was sent to the new Free State premier, Mxolisi Dukwana, to find out if there has been a new deadline set to turn the province pothole-free.

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Days before Dukwana tabled his first State of the Province Address (Sopa), many people, including the political analyst Sethulego Matebesi, said they hope Dukwana will outline plans he has for the state of the roads in the province. 

Democratic Alliance’s leader in the province, Roy Jankielsohn, also shared the same sentiments, stating “one of the biggest challenges the people within the province are faced with is the state of roads – this needs to be addressed immediately.” He explained that many of the towns in the province have become an island economy because it is difficult for people to access those towns due to the road conditions. After some time, this will lead to the closure of businesses because the businesses in those towns are inaccessible. Jankielsohn mentioned that the province is a very agricultural-orientated province, and this depends on the state of the roads. “The former premier Sisi Ntombela promised during her 2022 Sopa that roads within the province will be restored to their former glory. This was, however, not done.”

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Dukwana indeed included plans he has for the state of the roads in his Sopa. He stated that at least R1.9 billion would be spent restoring the Free State's roads to their former glory. Dukwana added that it is imperative that the way and means by which road service delivery happens, be changed. “International best practices have shown that road construction can happen in a more efficient and effective manner. Therefore, the provincial government will be exploring the implementation of solutions such as 24-hour road construction,” said Dukwana. He further stated that attention must be given to expedite the maintenance and construction backlog of the roads that form the backbone of the logistics industry and support economic activity such as the roads in the Ficksburg and Bothaville areas.

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Back to Operation Vala Zonke, by the beginning of November 2022, 40 149 potholes were repaired in the province. 

The provincial spokesperson responsible for the Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport, Hillary Mophethe, said that from the day of the launch of the programme in August 2022, a total of 14 052 square metres has been completed.  “The department is committed to repairing two million potholes by the end of March 2023,” she explained. As far as the issue of the deadline they have set is concerned, Mophethe said 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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