South Africa, already grappling with the high costs of upgrading its port, rail, and electricity infrastructure, now faces an additional R307-billion bill to repair and improve its extensive national road system.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy, speaking to lawmakers in Cape Town on Tuesday, revealed that the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) requires design and construction work on 1,437 projects. Sanral, which manages just 4% of the country’s 750,000-kilometer road network, has been significantly hindered by various challenges, including contractors going out of business and extortion by organized crime. Creecy noted that firms like China Communications Construction Co. have been brought in to complete projects after contractors abandoned them due to criminal demands. Despite managing a relatively small portion of the national road network, Sanral’s roads are critical, carrying 70% of South Africa’s long-distance freight.
The substantial cost of road repairs mirrors the financial burdens faced by other state-owned entities. Eskom, the power utility, needs R390 billion to upgrade the electricity grid and integrate more clean energy sources, while Transnet must invest billions to improve signaling systems and repair trains that have been sidelined due to a lack of spare parts.
Provincial road projects are also under pressure, with annual design and construction budgets averaging R17-billion through 2027, according to the presentation. Additionally, there are numerous incomplete, abandoned, and delayed projects across the country. To address these challenges, Creecy recommended bolstering support for the transport department through leadership reforms within the police to strengthen governance and enhance project monitoring.
