R33 Road remains a nightmare despite millions spent
GROBLERSDAL – The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo is seeking answers from the Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality (EMLM) and all other entities involved on procedures followed, tender applications, the costs and scope of work on contracts for work done on the R33 Road between Groblersdal and Stoffberg.
The DA said it would submit a PAIA application to the EMLM and entities involved, with a request for a breakdown of procedures followed, tender applications, the costs and scope of work on those contracts on all work done on the R33 Road.
The party said during an oversight visit earlier last week, they travelled on the R33 Road from Groblersdal to Stoffberg, which was nothing short of terrifying.
Lindy Wilson, DA EMLM political head, said the huge potholes were a major problem but when the tar just simply disappeared and exposed massive holes, ditches and eroded soil, the situation became life threatening.
Wilson added that a couple of kilometers down the road, the tar almost magically reappeared and disappeared again.
She said the R33 was a major road used by mining vehicles, large delivery trucks and taxis that ferried stock and people between Mpumalanga and Limpopo and that despite the horrific condition of the road, they overtook one another and veered all over the road in order to avoid the holes, a situation which threatened lives.
“More disturbing is information received by the DA that in the last few years, contracts have been paid in excess of R60 million to repair and maintain the road. The last contractor, who was apparently appointed before the scope of work was even finalized, has allegedly been paid in full. What the contractor was actually paid for is a mystery,” said Wilson.
The DA further said that it would request the Auditor-General to conduct a full investigation into the tenders and procedures followed with regards to the work on the R33 Road. It added that if necessary it would ask the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) to investigate the matter.
