Question NW1256 to the Minister of Transport
25 April 2023 - NW1256
Tarabella - Marchesi, Ms NI to ask the Minister of Transport
Whether her department has plans to repair the R719 road from Bloemfontein to Bothaville, which is a regional road with a maximum speed limit of 100 km/h, as it has become impossible to drive on and considering that the young and unemployed put their lives at risk trying to fix the road by closing potholes with soil with the hope of donations; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The Department can confirm that the road R719 between Bultfontein-Wesselsbron-Bothaville, from Bloemfontein is indeed a regional road with the posted speed of 100km/hr.
The Free State Department of Police, Roads and Transport is currently experiencing budgetary constraints regarding routine maintenance resulting with the section between Wesselsbron to Bothaville in a worse condition.
To address the above challenges, the Free State Department of Police, Roads and Transport is providing pothole repair with assistance from the farming community through the Letsema programme, whereby the Department is providing equipment and material whereas the farming community is providing labourers, who will be supervised by Government officials to work on road surface to ensure safety on the road.