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The roads in Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality are in a terrible state. The rural gravel roads are in desperate need of gravel and grading. The surface roads are deteriorating by the day and potholes have become the norm.

The metro does not have a solution for this problem. Nor does the department of engineering have the capacity, equipment, raw materials, manpower, budget or political will to rectify the situation. The DA has come to expect continuous excuses daily, as to why this basic service cannot be rendered by the metro.

The Free State Premier, Sisi Ntombela, and Police Roads and Transport MEC, William Bulwane promised to have a pothole-free province within six months as they embarked on Operation Vala Zonke. Another promise in a long line of empty promises made to the municipality and Free State province.

The Geluksdam Farmers Association members decided to repair the potholes on the Mangaung Metro Municipality side of the Jagersfontein road. Once they received the necessary permission from the Department of Police Roads and Transport, they set to work. With a team of roughly 50 labourers, 8 bakkies and 3 tractors they embarked on repairing all the potholes in an estimated 30km stretch of road. The project took them 8 days over a period of a month to complete at a cost of roughly R75, 000 including all costs. No financial assistance from the province or any government department. It was repaired according to industry specifications and standards. An estimated 550 potholes were repaired. The Jagersfontein Farmers Association repaired approximately the same distance at the same cost on the Kopanong municipality side of the Jagersfontein road.

Compared to the 25km stretch of Road on the Abrahamskraal road, Bainsvlei, which was completed in a 6-month period by 25 labourers to only repair 575 potholes, at a total cost of R 3 million. Also, a 1,2km stretch of road in Kellys View was completed over a period of 3 months by 12 labourers to fix 135 potholes, at a total cost of R1 million. After 800m the tenderpreneur ran out of funds and the residents of Kellys View completed the remaining 400m by themselves at an estimated cost of R16, 000. Both were funded by the Department of Police Roads and Transport leadership programme.

The comparison of costs and quality of work shows why our province and metro are falling apart. Extravagant amounts of money are poured into the pockets of tenderpreneurs, while the residents must fit the bill via rates and taxes but are left without any services or roads to drive on.

The DA will continue pushing the Free State Premier, Sisi Ntombela, and Police Roads and Transport MEC, William Bulwane to clean up the department and eliminate wasteful expenditure and corrupt practices. Furthermore, the DA challenges them to keep their promise to have a pothole-free province within six months as they embark on Operation Vala Zonke.

Issued by Dave Mc Kay - DA Councillor Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality