The deteriorating road infrastructure in North West, compounded by a massive maintenance backlog and inadequate funding, has prompted provincial MEC responsible for Public Works, Roads and Transport to declare war on potholes.
Tabling the more than R2.5 billion budget for his department, Mahlakeng Mahlakeng confirmed the reality of a decaying road network in most parts of the province over the years.
The exception is Rustenburg in Bojanala District, where visible improvements in the road network in and or of the town, are nearing completion. This is so, because Rustenburg is one of the host cities for the 2010 FIFA World Cup next year.
Mahlakeng told the provincial legislature on Friday that 24 percent of tarred/paved roads were in a poor to very poor condition. This he said was confirmed by the findings of the Road Network Management System (RNMS) in 2007.
The bad state of gravel roads he said deteriorated even further, from 70 percent poor to 80 percent in last year.
North West is largely rural.
“The truth about the state of our roads cannot be overemphasised. We have to start with what can be done immediately by declaring war on potholes and close them,” he said.
Mahlakeng said more than R835 million budget allocated for road infrastructure, was far from adequate to enable his department to construct new tarred roads, let alone to take care of maintenance back logs on existing ones. He said a substantial amount was already committed from the previous financial year.
On the flipside, Mahlakeng also warned emerging contractors to lift it up and improve. “While we will pull all stops to continue our support there will be no room for poor workmanship. We will not hesitate to terminate such contracts service delivery to our people is being compromised by poor workmanship. Our eyes cannot lie to us in this regard,” he said.
Mahlakeng said labour intensive methods will mandatory on all infrastructure projects where Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) budgeted at more than R74 million will create jobs particularly in rural areas.
He said traffic management R218 million will be beef-up to ensure more visibility, efficiency and effectiveness on the roads. This he said would be coupled with intensified road safety campaigns to all road users aimed at reducing fatalities on our roads.
On the flipside, warned people including public servants occupying government houses in Mafikeng and elsewhere illegally and fraudulently in Mafikeng, of legal action.
Included in Mahlakeng’s department’s budget is:
- Administration R211 million
- Public works R522 million
- Public transport R682 million
Enquiries:
Matshube Mfoloe
Cell: 082 305 4594
