Freedom Front Plus pressure brings about progress on R76 between Steynsrus and Kroonstad

Image: FF Plus

After constant pressure from the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus), repairs to the R76 between Steynsrus and Kroonstad have finally gained momentum.

Months of monitoring has resulted in tangible improvements to the 48 km stretch of road that has been a source of frustration for residents and farmers for years.

Repairs began in 2019 and the project was initially supposed to be completed by 2022. However, repair work came to a standstill for nearly two years after the Free State Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport indicated that more than R270 million earmarked for the project had been squandered.

In 2023, the Freedom Front Plus requested the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to look into the road project's contracts and expenditure.

Numerous oversight visits by the Freedom Front Plus and the Free State Legislature's Portfolio Committee revealed that the work performed by the previous contractor, Sedtrade, was never completed. The road surface soon began crumbling away, posing a serious safety risk to motorists and resulting in numerous accidents over the course of the past six years.

Following a meeting convened by the Free State Premier Ms MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae in Steynsrus in October 2024, the project was awarded to a new contractor, Phezulu Construction. 

Phezulu began work in May this year, and noticeable progress has already been made on site.

Corruption and mismanagement, which hampered the project for years, remain deeply rooted in the Free State government. Last week, the Premier once again announced that action would be taken against inefficient contractors – but it simply never happens.

The Freedom Front Plus will keep monitoring the progress on the R76. The party also insists that the Premier explain how she plans to recover the money already squandered on the project.