The roads network in the Free State is a provincial disaster.
Statistics showingthat 90 percent of the 21 562 km of gravel roads are poor to very poor while 63 percent of the 6370 km of tarred roads are poor to very poor is out dated.
The Department has not done an audit of the condition of roads since 2009 when the new Premier Ace Magashule came into office. It can be presumed that the figured could be closer to 100 percent of gravel and 80 percent of tarred roads that are poor to very poor. Rains and floods over the past year have added to this crisis.
According to a media statement issued by the Democratic Alliance leader in the Free State Roy Jankielsohn on Tuesday, a major concern is that according to the Free State Department of Police, Roads and Transport; the province forfeited R135 million in national grants meant for roads last year.
The National Department of Transport briefing to Parliament recently indicated that treasury had allocated R447,165 million in 2011/12, R525,794 million in 2012/13, and R567,433 million in 1013/14 from the Provincial Roads Maintenance Grant to the Free State.
However the Provincial Department of Police, Roads and Transport indicated to the legislature that they would not be in a position to meet the requirements to access the grant for at least 2011/12. It appears that no audit has been done of road conditions since before 2009 and the capacity to administer the use of these funds is lacking.
Court cases which the department lost last year indicate that a simple tender procedure is beyond the capacity of this department. In the meantime, the poor conditions of the roads are a great source of concern to all business interests in the province of which transport, agriculture and tourism are a few
The DA in the Free State is concerned that, while the province has many needs, the available funds are not utilized to alleviate the crises. Besides the loss of national roads grants the province also forfeited R263 million for housing and R391 million for education and health last year.
With allegations of irregularities and corruption involving the premier are referred to regularly in the media, the province appears to be falling into an administrative crisis which is affecting the economy and job creation in the province.
The Free State is proof that an ineffective or corrupt government in fact makes poor people poorer, the party said.