ANC’s head in a pothole

YOUR report “DA ‘plastic road’ idea faces ANC dead stop” (SD, August 19) refers. The ANC’s outright dismissal of this proposal in disparaging terms illustrates quite clearly that this a is party with its head in a pothole.

This province has a crisis when it comes to maintaining our roads. This impacts on every community. A sound roads network is vital for a growing economy and in the Eastern Cape, our economy is not growing fast enough to create jobs. The latest quarterly labour force survey illustrated that 59 000 people had lost their jobs in the second quarter (April-June).

In a province strapped for cash, we would expect a governing party to embrace new technology to build better roads at a lower cost.

The use of waste plastic in rods will also empower disadvantaged communities and marginalised groups.

One million plastic bags can be used to build one kilometre of road. Can you imagine the benefit both in economic and environmental terms where people can make money from collecting waste plastic?

We are living in the era of the fourth industrial revolution where the use of new technology is sweeping the world. This requires a forwardthinking government that can embrace change.

Sadly, a head in the pothole attitude will not create the opportunities this province deserves. It is clear from the rejection of the motion that the ANC is stuck in the past whereas the DA is the party of the future. — Bobby Stevenson, MPL, DA leader in the Bhisho Legislature