The Free State Department of Roads acknowledged in a submission to the Infrastructure Portfolio Committee that R30 billion and R15 billion respectively are needed to repair tarred and gravel roads in the province. This is equivalent to the total budget of the Free State government for the new financial year.
Armand Cloete, FF Plus MP: Free State, said the FF Plus revealed in April 2023 that the province would have to fork out R28 billion at that stage to fully repair tarred roads in the province.
In 2025 the largest part of the provincial budget has been allocated to social departments such as health and education for years while road infrastructure has been lagging.
Cloete says the province has handed over eighteen roads to the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) for repair work.
This department has also indicated that processes are currently being followed to obtain national disaster management funds for flood-affected roads in the province.
Jafta Mokoena, DA Spokesperson for Roads and Transport in the Free State Legislature said after the State of the province (SOPA) address in February he strongly disagrees with Premier McQueen Letsoha-Mathae’s claims about road infrastructure and the investment of R1.9 billion in construction projects.
He says despite this substantial sum, the Free State’s roads continue to deteriorate, leaving citizens to navigate unsafe and poorly maintained infrastructure.
There have been numerous complaints from residents and local businesses regarding the condition of the Clocolan–Marquard road and the negative impact it has on the community.
According to the Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport, construction on the Clocolan–Marquard road was scheduled to commence on 1 June.
On 9 June during an oversight visit by Jose Coetzee, DA Councillor Setsoto Municipality, along with members of the legislature, Dulandi Leech and Jafta Mokoena, found that no construction had commenced.
The site office was closed, no workers were present, and there was a concerning absence of construction equipment and materials.
While no official explanation has been provided, it has come to the DA’s attention that several other infrastructure projects across the Free State appear to be experiencing similar delays, possibly due to financial constraints. “However, this has not been confirmed, and the DA will continue to thoroughly investigate the matter,” says Coetzee.
The R76 road between Kroonstad and Steynsrus has been in a very bad condition for some time and repairs have begun on the road. DA councillor Spaski Geldenhuis of Kroonstad points out, the R76 is not the only road in the area that requires urgent attention. The routes connecting Kroonstad to nearby towns like Koppies, Edenville, Vredefort and the old-Lindley road are also in a state of disrepair, making every trip a nerve-racking experience. “These roads are a challenge for motorists and desperately need repairing. It’s not just about convenience it’s about ensuring the safety and well-being of our community members who rely on these roads daily,” he said.
In the town of Hennenman, which falls into the Lejweleputswa District, extreme road conditions are affecting major industry.
A petition with more than a thousand signatures from Ward 3 in this beleaguered municipality have highlighted the dire conditions. Maxie Badenhorst, DA councillor for the ward says despite years of formal submissions, complaints, and photographic evidence from the DA, the municipality has failed to act.
Dr van der Bijl Road, a critical route to major employers, Tiger Milling and Senwes, has become completely inaccessible. Although R5 million was allocated in the Matjhabeng Local Municipality IDP, since 2021, no work has been done. Heavy-duty trucks are now rerouted through residential and business areas; damaging roads not built for such loads and endangering residents.
In Phomolong, roads near the clinic are so damaged that emergency services struggle to access the area. Ongoing sewer spillages are further destroying roads, creating inhumane living conditions.
Temporary fixes are not enough. The DA demands repairs to Dr van der Bijl Road and the broader Ward 3 road network.
Tiger Milling has already flagged production losses and cost increases due to failing roads. Without urgent action, Hennenman risks losing a major employer, with severe economic consequences.
Freedom Front Plus councilor Irma Heyns from Senekal says, that the road between Senekal via Rosendal and Ficksburg known as the R 70 is currently closed. The road is half-completed and the deadline for the R 70 to be completed was last year November. According to Heyns, the Marquard-Clocolan road known as the R 708 is also in a state of disrepair and very dangerous for motorists. “Trucks using the R 708 are worsen the state of the road, it takes almost an hour to drive only 30 km on that road. Cars have to pull over if truck comes from the front.”
On a positive note, the R30 road between Allanridge and Bothaville was successfully fixed in 2022. Two sections of this road were raised above the water levels of adjourning dams.
Heavy rains in 2021 and 2022 deteriorated the road to such an extent that many vehicles landed up in the adjacent dams. The road was closed for repairs in 2022 after more than 30 deaths on this stretch of the R30 Allanridge Road, which earned it the name of the Valley of Death. A major reconstruction project costing over R22 million was undertaken, including reinforcing the road surface and building drainage systems. This road was reopened in mid-2023.
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