The R59 provincial road has turned into a death trap for motorists and an economic liability for the industries and businesses lining its route.
Beginning in Dealesville in the Free State, the R59 runs north-east across the Vaal River and ends in Tulisa Park near Johannesburg. More than a link between the Free State and Gauteng, it also serves as an alternative transport corridor between the North West, the Northern Cape and Gauteng relieving pressure on the N1 and N12.
Yet South Africans living along the R59 are denied economic opportunities, and those using the route risk their lives. The road is riddled with potholes, with insufficient markings near towns and residential crossings. Between Gauteng and Sasolburg, the R59 is meant to be a strategic corridor connecting Alberton and Vereeniging, but it cannot carry heavy traffic effectively because of its poor condition.
The intersections at the Sasolburg entrances see weekly accidents due to poor lighting and inadequate traffic management, making them extremely dangerous. From Sasolburg to Vredefort popular tourism areas in the Free State the deplorable condition of the road deters visitors travelling to Parys.
The R59 is crucial because it passes through South Africa’s agricultural “bread basket.” It runs through Bothaville, Wesselsbron and Hoopstad in the Free State and links Wolmaranstad in the North West; together these provinces produce an estimated 66.8 % of South Africa’s maize. However, farmers and businesses in this region have been forced to use alternative routes because the R59 has been allowed to deteriorate by the Free State provincial government.
According to Statistics SA, the North West’s official unemployment rate of 53.6 % is the highest among South African provinces, followed by the Free State at 45.1 %. We cannot afford to let vital roads like the R59 be dysfunctional when they are essential for economic growth.
The Democratic Alliance will take the following action steps to help grow the economy:
- Launch a petition to hand over to the relevant provincial departments, urging that the R59 be transferred to SANRAL.
- Write to the Minister of Transport, asking for immediate engagement with the provincial departments to ensure that maintenance starts at once, so travellers can be safe on the R59 during the festive season.
- Engage with the Minister of Cooperative Governance so that local municipalities and the provincial government collaborate, making town and city entrances safer. This includes delegating authority to municipalities to install speed bumps, warning signs and proper lighting for day and night safety.
- Liaise with the Minister of Agriculture to ensure inter-ministerial cooperation so that farmers and agricultural businesses in the bread basket are not harmed by poor road infrastructure.
The DA is committed to supporting the growth of local and rural economies, creating jobs and uplifting South Africans. Proper road infrastructure is key to this mission.
We will monitor progress to ensure communities along the R59 benefit from this vital transport artery. When you move people and goods, you move money.