Media reports on the poor condition of 48% of Johannesburg roads are cause for grave concern and this highlights how the previous ANC administration’s lack of routine maintenance gave rise to the serious deterioration of our roads.
However, Johannesburg is not alone. Roads in ANC municipalities, such as Ekurhuleni, are in even worse condition as routine maintenance is extremely poor.
Provincial roads are also not immune from a lack of maintenance. Decreasing budgets to the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport – especially on road construction and maintenance require either the movement of funds within various programmes of the Department or the cancelling of upgrades and new roads.
What is even more concerning is the lack of routine maintenance planning with decisions to upgrade based on areas of the greatest exigency rather than a logical, systematic plan.
To stop the total degradation of our road network it is essential that planned maintenance is reintroduced, as has been done in the DA cities of Johannesburg and Tshwane.
Mayor Herman Mashaba has recently announced an additional R88 million for pothole repairs for this year, and has placed road repair staff on overtime to get the repairs done as soon as possible. Mayor Mashaba has also proposed an extra R25 million for tarring roads in Orange Farm, R21 million to Diepsloot and another R25 million to Ivory Park in the new 2017/2018 budget. These will go a long way to redressing the terrible roads left by the former ANC government in Johannesburg.
This shows the DA is leading the way and this commitment must be replicated on a provincial level and in all ANC-run municipalities as a matter of urgency.
Media Enquiries
Dr Neil Campbell MPL
DA Spokesperson on Roads and Transport
082 387 2540
Warren Gwilt
Media Manager
073 601 6144