The premier's spokesperson, Sello Dithebe, stated that the newly appointed premier Mxolisi Dukwana is committed to the injunctions which were tabled in his State of the Province Address (Sopa) on 28 February 2023. “These injunctions are not limited to fixing our road network,” he added. Dithebe also stated as far as saying the former premier, Sisi Ntombela, missed her own targets of fixing potholes, it must be seen as a work in progress. 

“Importantly, we must not be oblivious to the fixing of the (R730) road between Bloemfontein and Virginia/Welkom. Elsewhere in other towns, old roads are being fixed and new ones being started.”

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The deadline in question is Operation Vala Zonke, which is aimed at repairing the potholes in the province. 

At the launch, Ntombela committed that the provincial government, together with the Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport, will see to it that Free State will be without potholes within six months from August. 

During his Sopa, Dukwana announced 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, earlier said that from the day of the launch of the programme in August 2022, a total of 14 052 square metres have 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.

OFM News