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.
Image: Screenshot
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
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
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
9 hours ago
- IOL News
Julius Malema: MK Party won't affect EFF support among progressive South Africans
EFF leader Julius Malema told the media in Cape Town that the Red Berets will only be reduced among tribalists, not among progressive South Africans. Image: Ayana Ndamane / Independent Newspapers EFF leader Julius Malema said on Thursday the MK Party, which is the third largest in Parliament, would not reduce its support base despite being relegated to fourth place after the 2024 elections. 'There is no MK that is going to reduce us. It will reduce us among tribalists, not among progressive South Africans,' Malema told the media during a briefing in Cape Town ahead of the party's anniversary celebrations on Saturday. 'There is no MK that can replace us ideologically, politically, and otherwise. You saw yesterday in Parliament, a mess in action,' he said. He was referring to the flip-flopping made by MK Party chief whip Colleen Makhubele during the vote on the Appropriation Bill in the National Assembly. Makhubele voted in support of the Bill only to change their vote, claiming she mistook it for the Ad Hoc Committee that was established to probe the serious allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Malema expressed his shock that Makhubele had not corrected herself when she was allowed to do so by Parliament's House chairperson Cedric Frolick, but 'she says we vote in support'. He also noted that Makhubele had 'thrown her toys' when Frolick did not recognise her, instead of EFF MP Omphile Maotwe, when there was an opportunity to object and call for a division when the schedule of budgets of the department was voted. 'The TG (treasurer-general Omphile Maotwe) said 'we are going against and called for a division'. She threw her toys. The issue was much bigger than emotions. When they objected and called for division, we supported them,' he said. 'She behaved like she was not a leader and threw toys,' Malema added. He also said the EFF has proven to be an effective opposition party in Parliament. Malema also said his party was making huge inroads in the Western Cape ahead of the 2026 local government elections. He said the Western Cape was one of the provinces where the Red Berets increased the number of votes during the May 2024 general elections. 'Research shows that the EFF is to have huge increases in the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape. We are here to consolidate the ground because this is where we want to grow,' he claimed. Explaining the Western Cape as the host of their 12th anniversary celebrations, Malema said the province had never hosted their anniversaries. 'We were told the season is not good, it's rainy and windy. We have had to take a bold decision that we can't have a province in the history of our organisation, which has never hosted the national celebrations of the EFF, because we are a national organisation.' The EFF national leaders moved the anniversary celebrations from Mthatha in the Eastern Cape following the devastating floods that displaced people and left communities in mourning. 'The EFF made the responsible decision to relocate the venue out of respect and solidarity with those affected.' He also said the choice of Khayelitsha as a venue was significant because it is the second largest township and home to thousands of poor and working-class Africans who lived under the weight of special apartheid and deliberate under-development. 'Khayelitsha remains physically and economically separated from the so-called World Class parts of Cape Town. When the DA-led city speaks of this smart city, they are not referring to Khayelitsha. They are referring to the wide enclaves of Sea Point, Claremont, Constantia, and Stellenbosch, while the people of Khayelitsha are left to swim in poverty, crime, poor sanitation, overcrowding, and the lack of basic housing.' Malema said they have erected a dome with a capacity to accommodate 10,000 people as the main venue for the rally. 'This structure includes all essential amenities, including sanitation facilities, and will be ready to host thousands of Fighters, supporters, and community members. 'We expect a powerful turnout from surrounding areas, including side B, Site C, TR Section, Nyanga, Gugulethu, Delft, and Belhar.'
IOL News
11 hours ago
- IOL News
Malema alleges warrant out for Police Commissioner Masemola
EFF leader Julius Malema says Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola is being protected from arrest despite a warrant tied to corruption allegations involving senior SAPS appointments. Image: X/EFF EFF leader Julius Malema claims National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola was supposed to have been arrested after KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's explosive media briefing, but claims that police inaction was due to alleged political interference. However, the police have denied Mamela's claims that a warrant of arrest is pending against Masemola. Masemola, through SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, denied knowledge of any warrant. 'SAPS is not aware of any warrant of arrest for General Masemola. Kindly redirect your questions to Mr. Malema, he may be in a better position to respond with more information,' Mathe said. During a press conference on Thursday in Cape Town to mark the party's 12th anniversary, Malema claimed that Masemola was supposed to be arrested. 'There is a warrant of arrest against Masemola. It's out… I don't know why it's not being picked up. It means someone somewhere is playing politics and somehow they want to undermine once more the independence of our justice system,' Malema said. He alleged that Masemola was supposed to have been arrested the same week KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi held an explosive media briefing. 'Masemola is being arrested for what he did with Khumalo in Crime Intelligence. Masemola was supposed to be arrested that week when Mkhwanazi had a press conference,' Malema said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Lieutenant General Peter Khumalo, the head of Police Crime Intelligence, who, along with six colleagues, was arrested on June 26 in connection with serious allegations related to the unlawful appointment of senior personnel within the South African Police Service (SAPS). Khumalo has been charged alongside Major General Nosipho Precious Madondo, head of Intelligence Analysis and Coordination; Major General Josias Lekalaka, Gauteng provincial head of Crime Intelligence; Major General Zwelithini Gabela, head of Technical Management Services; Brigadier Phindile Ncube, section head of Personnel Security - Vetting; and Brigadier Dineo Mokwele. They are facing charges related to the irregular appointment of Mokwele to the senior rank of brigadier within the Technical Support Services (TSS), allegedly without proper vetting. According to the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), Khumalo and his co-accused acted in concert, bypassing critical vetting protocols essential for senior SAPS roles. During an explosive press briefing, Mkhwanazi also implicated Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who has since been placed on leave. He accused Mchunu of interfering in police operations and shielding those implicated in misconduct. Mkhwanazi further claimed that Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya conspired with information dealer Brown Mogotsi from North West and Mchunu to disband the KwaZulu-Natal political killings task team. He said the unit had 121 active dockets, many related to politically motivated killings, which were withdrawn after the unit's dissolution in March. Mkhwanazi presented WhatsApp messages, SAPS documents, and cellphone records to support his claims, adding that Mchunu had written to Masemola in December 2024, saying the task team had 'outlived its usefulness.' Malema insisted that Masemola should have been arrested alongside Khumalo, suggesting the timing of Mkhwanazi's press conference may have delayed the process. 'I thought Mkhwanazi's press conference was a preemptive strategy and perhaps the arrest for Masemola was delayed by that,' Malema said. 'Once a warrant of arrest is issued, it means there is some sort of evidence of wrongdoing which must be tested at a court. So we will have to make sure that this is followed through.' On June 27, IOL News reported that Khumalo and five co-accused appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court for a bail hearing. All but one were granted bail of R10,000. Major General Philani Lushaba, the group's chief financial officer, remains in custody due to a pending case that was not disclosed during his bail affidavit. IDAC spokesperson Henry Mamothame confirmed the bail conditions, stating that the five accused were barred from entering any Crime Intelligence premises. He said the case forms part of IDAC's broader mandate to investigate corruption and prevent state capture in government institutions. The matter has been postponed to August 13. IOL
IOL News
11 hours ago
- IOL News
Lesotho insists its citizens undergoing military-style training to reclaim land in South Africa
National commissioner of the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS), advocate Borotho Matsoso said the information about Basotho getting military-style training at certain farms is legitimate. Image: Lesotho Mounted Police Service/Facebook Authorities in the Kingdom of Lesotho insist they have credible information about Basotho undergoing military-style training in certain farms within South Africa, as part of the growing campaign to fight for the contentious land in South Africa's provinces. The land being claimed includes parts of Free State, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. Earlier this month, a Lesotho member of parliament, Dr Tshepo Lipholo, leader of the Basotho Covenant Movement, a political party that has been leading the charge in demanding the return of Lesotho's "stolen land" which is part of current-day South Africa, was arrested and charged in the mountain kingdom. Lipholo faces serious charges, including sedition and incitement. He is also accused of violating the dignity and reputation of Lesotho's royal family by allegedly declaring himself the 'paramount chief of Basotholand' and encouraging young Basotho to prepare for armed struggle. It is alleged that audio clips circulating on social media platforms prove these claims. Lipholo has been leading the charge, calling for certain sections of South Africa to be declared Lesotho's territory. Limpholo wants the land to be returned to the governance of Lesotho. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Earlier this year, Lipholo travelled to the United Nations, where he submitted a claim that seeks to reclaim land lost during the colonial era. However, Lesotho's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations distanced itself from Lipholo, stating he was acting on his own agenda, and the UN trip was not sanctioned by the Maseru government. This week, national commissioner of the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS), advocate Borotho Matsoso, told Newzroom Afrika that the information regarding the military-style training of Basotho in South Africa is credible. Matsoso said the militant group calls itself Malata Naha (land reclaimers) is active within the borders of South Africa and seems to be 'ready to take over'. 'It is not necessarily young Basotho, but Basotho nationals of different ages, we have discovered that they have been recruited to join this military training in some of the farms in South Africa. This is what we have come across. He added that the programme has the possibility of disrupting peace and security in the region. Some South African citizens, according to Matsoso, have been sucked into the military-style training programme at unidentified farms. Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho, Sam Ntsokoane Matekane with President Cyril Ramaphosa. Image: Government of Lesotho Last week, Prime Minister of Lesotho, Samuel Matekane issued a statement following the arrest of Lipholo, adding that his government had uncovered that the ongoing actions were intended to disrupt peace, security, and national stability. The land at the heart of the contended areas was historically inhabited by Basotho, people from southern Africa's Bantu ethnic group, who represent the ultimate majority of Lesotho nationals. Last year, a motion was put before parliament in Lesotho, seeking to reclaim large swaths of land from South Africa. The motion seeks to have the Lesotho parliament declare the entire Free State province, which borders Lesotho, and other areas in South Africa, as part of the small mountain kingdom, surrounded by South Africa. IOL News
