Central SA
Free State opposition parties criticise underspending on provincial roads─── KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 13:04 Fri, 16 Aug 2024
“R28 billion is required to adequately address the road infrastructure crisis in the Free State.”
Opposition parties in the Free State have criticised the provincial government’s handling of infrastructure and underspending on road maintenance.
Free State Community Safety, Roads and Transport MEC, Jabu Mbalula delivered his departmental budget speech in the Fourth Raadsaal in Bloemfontein on Friday (16/8), indicating R3.6 billion will be allocated to his department for the 2024/25 financial year. He outlined allocations for operational costs, infrastructure enhancement, and road maintenance.
Mbalula’s budget includes R1.3 billion for operational costs, R360 million for infrastructure enhancement, and R1.97 billion for the Provincial Road Maintenance Grant – a notable 8.6% increase from the previous year’s allocation. Despite this, opposition members have expressed significant concerns about the sufficiency of these funds.
FF Plus MPL Armand Cloete criticised the allocation, asserting that an estimated R28 billion is required to adequately address the road infrastructure crisis in the Free State. Cloete argued that the current allocation of R1.9 billion is insufficient and suggested that the government might be apprehensive about investing in projects that are likely to fail.
The DA’s Roy Jankielsohn echoed concerns about the state of the province’s roads, likening them to “blood clots” that endanger lives and the provincial economy. He pointed to the Western Cape’s successful 24-hour pothole patch programme as a model for improving road infrastructure and driving economic growth.
Jankielsohn stressed that the Free State requires a similar budgetary commitment to achieve comparable success and noted the importance of ensuring value for money in such projects. He criticised past road projects, such as the one between Frankfort and Reitz, which faced delays and required multiple contractors.
In his earlier address, Mbalula acknowledged the challenges posed by poor road conditions, which he said have deterred investment in the province. He claimed the provincial government made substantial progress in enhancing road networks, which contributes to job creation and investment attraction.
