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Provincial government must pave the way for growth and jobs by tackling roads crisis

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Dear Editor

The South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC) report, released this week, outlines the devastating impact of the Eastern Cape’s crumbling road infrastructure on the economy, job creation, and access to essential services. The report confirms what Eastern Cape residents have long experienced firsthand: inadequate roads have isolated communities, hindered growth, and entrenched poverty.

The DA is developing a comprehensive, multifaceted strategy to allow us to prioritise and drive oversight of critical road infrastructure improvements through our position as the official opposition in the Eastern Cape Legislature, ensuring that roads become a pathway to opportunity and economic revival across the province.

The SAHRC report reveals that only 9% of roads in the Eastern Cape are paved, compared to the national average of 25%. This alarming disparity not only underscores the neglect of the Eastern Cape’s infrastructure but also illustrates the government’s disregard for the immense economic and social potential that could be unlocked through functional road networks.

Poor road conditions affect almost every aspect of life for the people in this province, with limited access to healthcare, education, and job opportunities being just a few of the severe consequences.

Across rural communities, families and small businesses face daily struggles as poor road connectivity isolates them from economic centres, essential services, and broader opportunities. Farming and tourism, two sectors with the potential to drive economic growth in the province, are among the hardest hit.

Farmers cannot transport their goods efficiently to markets, losing income and hampering productivity. Similarly, the tourism industry, vital in scenic areas such as Hogsback, suffers due to inaccessible and unsafe roads that deter visitors and limit job creation.

The ripple effect of poor roads is devastating. The report documents instances where ambulances cannot reach patients on time, leading to preventable fatalities, and where police response times are severely delayed due to impassable roads, leading to increasing crime rates and community insecurity.

These conditions exacerbate poverty and restrict economic growth, keeping unemployment high and preventing the province from realising its full potential.

The DA believes good governance demands an immediate priority shift to address this crisis and is committed to taking proactive steps to develop a comprehensive, multifaceted strategy for the 7th administration, spearheaded by our Shadow MEC for Roads and Transport, Kabelo Mogatosi, which we will present in the next few weeks.

We urge the provincial government to act on the SAHRC’s recommendations. Alternative funding mechanisms, such as a dedicated infrastructure development grant, must be explored to bridge the funding shortfall.

We are calling on the Eastern Cape Treasury and the Department of Transport to engage with the private sector, leveraging partnerships to create a stronger road network that will boost investment, lower transportation costs, and increase market access for local businesses. Alternative road construction solutions, such as plastic roads that require much less maintenance and are currently being piloted in the DA-led Kouga municipality, should also be considered.

Every day that the provincial government delays addressing the road crisis, the Eastern Cape loses potential jobs, economic growth, and essential services for its citizens. The DA will continue to hold the government accountable for these failures while also providing solutions that pave the way for an Eastern Cape that is open for business, accessible, and economically active.

Regards

Dr Vicky Knoetze MPL
DA Leader of the Official Opposition in the Eastern Cape Legislature

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Port Elizabethan

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