Housing audit needed to address access, accountability
19 July 2016
Release: immediate
The Northern Cape Department of Roads and Public Works is directly hampering the growth of the provincial economy through its failure to maintain and upgrade the condition of our roads in an efficient and honest manner.
It has come to light that the department’s failure to maintain a busy gravel road in Carnarvon that is used by commercial and emerging farmers, as well as employees, is eating into the profits of all stakeholders and is threatening their livelihoods.
The road in question leads to the industrial area, specifically a local abattoir, and is routinely used by trucks and bakkies. The road is in such a poor state that profits earned in exchange for livestock are used to repair damages incurred by vehicles travelling on the derelict road.
The dire condition of the road is largely due to the unavailability of a grader to scrape the road, as the department only has one such grader to service the entire region.
The tendency of the department to make use of suspect contractors is further threatening the livelihood of farmers and business people who have to travel on the road between Campbell and Douglas.
While an amount of R11,2 million was earmarked for the upgrade of this particular road, it is doubtful whether this investment will have any long term benefits for the local economy, as the gravel being used for the upgrade is of such inferior quality that it is already turning to dust.
Once the legislature reconvenes in the third quarter, the DA will write letters and pose parliamentary questions to MEC of Roads and Public Works, Mxolisi Sokatsha, to query the allocation of road maintenance equipment to various districts, as well as the awarding of the tender for the upgrade of the Campbell-Douglas road, as we strongly suspect that corruption may ultimately emerge from this contract.
The DA recognizes that good quality paved and gravel roads play a vital role in the economic development of any province or country. The DA encourages voters everywhere to vote for change on 3rd August so that we can at least start addressing the Northern Cape’s poor road infrastructure on a municipal level by fixing potholes and maintaining all municipal roads.
Media Enquiries:
Andrew Louw
DA Northern Cape Provincial Leader
082 383 6914
Shelley De Witt
Researcher
082 847 1387
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