For years, the bulk of the provincial budget has been allocated to social departments such as health and education, while road infrastructure seems to be on the back burner.

The Free State Department of Roads admitted in a submission to the infrastructure portfolio committee that R30b and R15b, respectively, are needed to repair tarred and gravel roads in the province.

According to reports, this is equivalent to the Free State government’s total budget for the new financial year.

“We revealed in April 2023 that the province would have to fork out R28b at that stage to fully repair tarred roads in the province,” said Armand Cloete, FF Plus MP: Free State.

“The province handed over 18 roads to the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) for repair work,” confirmed Cloete.

The department also indicates in its report that processes are currently being followed to obtain national disaster management funds for flood-affected roads in the province.

“In April this year, we requested the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) to declare dirt roads in the province a disaster to speed up the process. However, it appears that the political will is lacking.”

According to Cloete, the condition of Free State roads will never improve as long as the ANC is in power, “with its failed policies of black economic empowerment (BEE) and affirmative action (AA).”

“The numerous stalled and failed road projects in the Free State are a clear indication that contractors should henceforth be appointed on merit regardless of skin colour,” concluded Cloete.