The Gauteng Department of Roads and Logistics’ maintenance budget was cut by R297 550 000 during the adjustment budget delivered yesterday by the MEC for Finance, Lebogang Maile. This means that the non-functioning provincial robots that are not working will not be fixed anytime soon.
In addition, provincial roads that are in need of urgent maintenance will also not be fixed.
This continues to put both pedestrians and motorists at risk because this department failed to spend its allocated maintenance budget, leading to the Provincial Treasury taking the money away.
Currently, 149 provincial robots are not working in the province. Earlier this year, the department conducted an audit of 400 provincial robots in Gauteng to determine exactly how many are not working.
This high number of robots not working will lead to more traffic accidents in the province.
The department’s response states that theft and vandalism of robots is a huge problem but fails to mention how they aim to address this. in the province.
The DA calls on the MEC for Finance not to cut much needed maintenance funds to Roads and Logistics. He should rather cut bailouts to underserving municipalities whose bad management is being incentivised by doing so and rather retain maintenance funds for fixing robots.
The DA has a petition in place for motorists and residents to report cases where robots are not working, have been stolen, or vandalised.
Complete the petition here.
Gauteng residents deserve a government that keeps roads and robots maintained and fixed regularly.