By 
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Free State has expressed unhappiness with pronouncement of the Free State Province Premier Ms MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae that the province has spent R1, 9 billion on road infrastructure.
During her State of the Province Address (SOPA), the Premier told her citizens that her government has invested R1, 9 billion in the construction, upgrading and maintenance of the province’s road infrastructure. She said the province is inspiring confidence to bolster growth and development and time will be the judge of their work.
Letsoha-Mathae announced that about six roads will be completed, these include; Zastron – Sterkspruit • Rosendal – Ficksburg • Jacobsdal – Koffiefontein • Koffiefontein – Luckhoff – Havenga Bridge • Harrismith SEZ, and • Viljoenskroon – Orkney.
“We have made available R993 million for special road maintenance to address rapid road deterioration caused by increased freight transport. As we have committed last year, our partnership with SANRAL is growing stronger. This has created massive employment and economic opportunities in the province. It is expected that these opportunities will continue to grow into the foreseeable future,” said Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae.
Opposed to this, the DA says money has been spent with very little results to show; the opposition party has further said that they disagree with the claims of Letsoha-Mathae on the road investment.
According to Jafta Mokoena, the DA Spokesperson for Roads and Transport in the Free State Legislature; the Premier claimed that R1.9 billion was invested in road construction, yet despite this substantial sum, the Free State’s roads continue to deteriorate, leaving citizens to navigate unsafe and poorly maintained infrastructure.
“This claim is especially troubling in light of the “New Beginnings” scandal, which has already raised serious questions about the true beneficiaries of public funds. The Premier’s implication in a highly publicised corruption scandal of events which occurred during her time as MEC for Community Safety Roads and Transport only deepens concerns about potential corruption and misallocation of taxpayer money.
During her speech, the premier indicated that the construction on the road between Excelsior and Tweespruit was on-going. The DA visited the site recently and found no signs of construction. This misrepresentation is not just misleading; it directly undermines the Premier’s credibility and raises doubts about other road projects she mentioned. Another prime example is the Kroonstad – Steynsrus road, which remains dangerous even after multiple contractors have been appointed to repair the road,” said Mokoena.
“The Premier’s attempt to frame the transfer of provincial roads to SANRAL as a “win” for her government is also disingenuous. While the DA does welcome the transfer of these roads, this should not be seen as a victory for the ANC or the Premier. In reality, this transfer is the result of years of mismanagement and incompetence by the Free State’s Department of Roads and Transport, which the Premier herself once led. The ANC’s inability to properly maintain and improve the province’s road network forced the DA to push for this transfer.
The Department responsible for roads and transport has single-handedly jeopardized the province’s road network and the movement of goods and services and put the Free State economy at risk,” he continued.
Jafta Mokoena says under the ANC’s watch, and with Premier Letsoha-Mathae at the helm, the people of the Free State have suffered from years of corruption, mismanagement, and lack of accountability.
He says the Free State deserves better, and the DA will continue to fight for quality road infrastructure.
