The Democratic Alliance has raised concerns about the condition of gravel roads providing access to agricultural hubs and silos in the Free State.
Rural roads in the Xhariep District are experiencing a severe infrastructure crisis, with widespread neglect, poor maintenance, and flood damage rendering many routes impassable. This neglect severely limits access to farming silos for agricultural transport and hinders access to tourism assets, notably the Tussen die Riviere Nature Reserve.
The party says roads in Xhariep, Thabo Mofutsanyana and Fezile Dabi districts show signs of poor maintenance. Incomplete projects include the R720 between Koppies, Edenville and Heilbron, and work at the Wilge River Bridge.
Roads around Bothaville for NAMPO 2026 are expected to be extremely busy with severe traffic congestion. The R30 from Orkney and Welkom is the main access route, often experiencing severe traffic delays and severe potholes, especially on the R59. While key routes have been repaired, visitors should expect long delays.
The R59 between Vaalpark and Vredefort has been described as life-threatening due to road surface issues, including deep potholes.
When gravel roads become impassable due to erosion or flooding, farmers cannot transport produce to silos and workers struggle to access farms. In Viljoenskroon, road closures and flooding have limited access to Senwes silos.
The infrastructure failures also affect police, health and other government services to rural communities.
The DA has submitted follow-up questions to the MEC for Police, Roads and Transport and requested urgent intervention to restore access to gravel roads and silo routes.
A memorandum of collaboration (MoC) was signed in Bloemfontein on Saturday, 21 February by Infrastructure South Africa (ISA), Agriculture South Africa (AgriSA) and the Agricultural Business Chamber (Agrbiz) to establishing a structured framework to guide joint modelling and prioritisation processes.
The agreement comes after months in which the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure lead by Minister Dean Macpherson together with ISA engaged extensively with the agricultural community of the Free State.
The MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure in the Free State, Dibolelo Mance, said at the time that this is the first time that a comprehensive mapping of roads in the Free State has been undertaken. “We are very excited that the pilot project started in the Free State.”
Another urgent intervention in the Free State is being demanded in Maluti-A-Phofung.
Residents of Lusaka Ward 24 in Maluti-A-Phofung Municipality say they face unequal access to sanitation services.
After a flush toilet infrastructure project was implemented in the area, some households received connections while others did not. Sewer pipes run through many residents’ yards, but the households remain unconnected.
When the sewer infrastructure becomes blocked, unconnected residents experience sewage problems despite not benefiting from the service.
A petition has been submitted to the municipality requesting an explanation of the project’s implementation and selection process, plans for equitable access to sanitation services, and intervention to address sewage blockages affecting unconnected homes.
The DA will submit formal questions to municipal leadership and table the matter in council.
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