R32 million spent on Gauteng road upgrade 'that only exists on Google Maps'
Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers
The Gauteng provincial roads and transport department is under fire after revealing spending over R32 million upgrading a stretch of Evaton Road in the Vaal, yet the area has nothing to show for it.
Instead, Evaton Road between Adams and Selbourne roads in Small Farms has a gravel street, a footpath over a stream and an illegal dumping site.
Excerpt of former Gauteng premier David Makhura's speech during his state of the province address in 2016.
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The area is between iMfundo Primary School and Tokelo Secondary School and is separated by the Rietspruit stream.
During his 2016 state of the province address, then Gauteng premier David Makhura announced that his administration would upgrade Evaton Road between Adams and Selbourne roads.
Part of Evaton Road between Adams and Selbourne that the Gauteng provincial roads and transport department says cost more than R32 million to upgrade.
Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers
DA member of the Gauteng provincial legislature Kingsol Chabalala asked the roads and transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela about the promised upgrade.
She indicated that the project started in October 2017 and was completed at the end of August 2017.
Diale-Tlabela said her department was happy with the work done by the service providers as the project was well implemented.
According to her written reply in the legislature, the main contractor was paid nearly R17.3m while the consultant received over R6.1m.
A dozen local small, medium and micro enterprises and subcontractors, who provided plant, grader and watercut hire, consulting works, roadworks, rental and storage of tools, security and completed shoulders, repairs, concrete drains and the cleaning of the roads, received just over R8.6m.
However, a recent visit to the area showed that Evaton Road between Adams and Selbourne roads has not been upgraded.
Residents who asked not to identified complained that during the rainy season, children attending both iMfundo Primary School and Tokelo Secondary School are unable to cross the Rietspruit stream and are forced to walk a longer distance.
'The road only exists on Google Maps,' complained one resident, who lives opposite one of the schools.
Another resident echoed similar sentiments: 'The funeral procession of an elderly neighbour could not reach the man's house due to the state of the road and it gets flooded whenever it rains'.
Chabalala said the DA was outraged when it heard that the department has not upgraded Evaton Road between Adams and Selbourne roads.
'This [is] despite the promises made by former Gauteng Premier David Makhura in 2016 that they will be upgrading the road. This road remains in a terrible condition. It is unrehabilitated and poses a safety risk for motorists and pedestrians,' he said.
Chabalala said this contradicted Diale-Tlabela's claim that the road was upgraded, and the project was well implemented.
'The DA Gauteng will request the chairperson of the roads and transport portfolio committee in the Gauteng provincial legislature to arrange an oversight inspection to assess the state of the roads,' he said.
Chabalala warned that should the committee confirm that the road was not upgraded, the DA will report Diale-Tlabela to the legislature's ethics committee for misleading the House.
'She must explain what happened to the money she claims was spent upgrading the roads,' he added.
The department did not respond to questions sent on Friday.
loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za
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