EKURHULENI Metropolitan Council has allocated less than three percent of the R11.25 billion needed to address the backlog of road resurfacing and rehabilitation of roads in the metro, this year.
Michael Waters, MP, DA deputy chief whip in the National Assembly and Lethabong constituency head, said this was revealed in a reply to Parliamentary questions.
According to the reply, only R325 million has been allocated in this year’s budget to address the chronic backlog of road resurfacing and rehabilitation, which amounts to 2 500km of roads.
“At this rate, it will take the metro 35 years or until 2052 to address the current backlog. This excludes the roads that would need resurfacing and rehabilitation in future,” Waters said.
“It is clear the ANC-IRASA coalition does not take the conditions of our roads seriously. Nor do they care about the safety of the drivers and passengers. Commuters who use these roads are at risk, as they are forced to swerve out of the way of deep potholes.
“The coalition government in Ekurhuleni needs to prioritise the maintenance of our roads and stop wasting ratepayers’ money on luxuries such as overseas travel and out-of-town strategy sessions. These junkets take place outside of the metro so as to allow councillors to stay over. This while the metro has enough of its own facilities, which are not only adequate for meetings and strategy sessions, but are also free,” Waters added.
“It’s time the ANC and its partners stop eating public money and spend it on delivering services. Without adequate road infrastructure, factories and companies will simply move elsewhere.”
