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The DA notes the willingness of the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) to immediately take maintenance responsibility for the R708 between Winburg and Theunissen. The only outstanding requirement, according to SANRAL, is for the Premier of the Free State, Sisi Ntombela, to make a written request to the Minister of Transport to declare this stretch of road as a national road to fall under the jurisdiction of SANRAL.

A CDP contractor, Seqhobong Construction, was appointed in the 2021/22 financial year at R7, 7 million to repair potholes here. This work was never done. The road is now in a life-threatening condition. The Free State provincial government has proven that it is not currently capable of fixing the road.

The National Council of Provinces yesterday unanimously passed a DA motion calling on Premier Nombela to make such a request to the Minister of Transport.

The DA will also write to the Premier on behalf of the community and road users of the R708, requesting her to submit such a request to the Minister without delay. We will also make further enquiries to establish which other Free State roads are part of the 2819 km road network that SANRAL is willing to take charge of.

Issued by George Michalakis MP - DA Constituency Head for Vetrivier Constituency