Provincial Intervention for Deteriorated R702 Road
CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE_EDITOR
The DA has written to the Free State Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport, over the complete deterioration of the R720 gravel road between Koppies, Edenville and Heilbron, following pipeline construction activities that commenced approximately three years ago.
We request a full investigation into the project, transparency on total expenditure to date, and clear accountability for contractors involved.
What was initially a temporary disruption has now escalated into a full-scale infrastructure failure, leaving the road completely inaccessible during rainfall and extremely hazardous even under normal conditions.
The current condition of the road poses a serious risk to all users. Vehicles, including cars, tractors and trucks, regularly get stuck, and many have already been damaged.
Water continuously accumulates on the road due to inadequate drainage, while stormwater infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed. During rainfall, the road becomes entirely unusable.
In certain sections, the road has further deteriorated and narrowed to a single lane, as rocks blasted during construction were left on and alongside the road rather than cleared.
Alarmingly, an accident occurred on this road on Monday, further highlighting the dangerous conditions and the urgent need for intervention.
This situation has created a serious safety risk because emergency vehicles cannot access the area when needed.
Of particular concern is the clear lack of urgency and accountability on-site. Drainage pipes were delivered weeks ago, but have still not been installed. In addition, several of these pipes were damaged during offloading and are now unusable.
Despite this, there has been no visible corrective action. Ongoing pipeline testing continues to worsen the road's condition.
These failures point to serious shortcomings in project management, contractor oversight and basic planning.
The impact on the local farming community is significant, especially during harvesting season. Farmers are unable to transport produce, workers struggle to access farms, and agricultural operations are being severely disrupted.
In addition, farmers with game farms are unable to transport hunters to and from their properties, resulting in further financial losses.
The economic impact extends beyond individual farmers. If producers cannot reach silos, it places pressure on the broader agricultural value chain, including stakeholders such as VKB and Senwes, creating a wider ripple effect on the local economy.
Immediate steps must be taken to install proper drainage infrastructure, replace damaged materials at the contractor's cost where applicable, and implement temporary measures to restore road access. A clear and time-bound plan for full rehabilitation must also be provided.
The continued neglect of this road is unacceptable. Communities cannot be left stranded, livelihoods cannot be compromised, and lives cannot be placed at risk due to poor planning and lack of accountability.
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