‘Cape roads in good shape’ Officials outline infrastructure projects’ progress, improving gender parity in staff

SENIOR officials in the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works had to field a volley of questions about lack of transformation, vacant posts, as well as road and traffic officer safety while briefing MPLs on the departmental budget yesterday.

Appearing before the provincial legislatures standing committee on transport and public works, MEC Donald Grant stressed that while they were not in a position to spend more, they were in fact spending smartly.

He said this included sending the right message to the private sector through selection and timing of projects and about the room for partnerships with the government. Grant said ongoing construction and maintenance of road infrastructure was a critical enabler of economic development.

“This will support the growing tourism and agriculture sectors as well as every other sector.

“Planning and design work will continue on major road projects, including the Borcherds Quarry interchange, Durban Road interchange, and extensions to the road network to support the development of the Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone,” he added.

Of the province’s 6 522km surfaced road network, 5 690km were in a fair to good condition while 90 percent of all vehicles travel on fair-to-very good roads.

Regarding the four major road construction and maintenance projects the department said:

The planning and design for Borcherds Quarry Interchange on the N2 has been completed for Phase 1, which will see the addition of a third lane and the bridge abutment foundations for future bridge widening.

Traffic modelling for various system options has been completed for the N1/N7 interchange upgrade. The contract has been awarded for the construction of a third lane to the N1/N7 interchange upgrade.

The contract has been awarded for the construction of a third lane to the N1 between Durban Road interchange and east of Old Oak interchange.

The planning for extensions to the road network in support of the Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone has been completed.

Tackling trafficking issues, committee chairman Lennit Max said while the department stressed that it was serious about bringing down road deaths and improving safety, it needed to fill vacant traffic posts as a matter of urgency.

“Vacant positions indicates a lack of commitment to ensure the safety of road users,” he said.

Departmental head Jacqui Gooch had to fend off questions by both ANC and DA MPLs about critical vacancies within the department, gender representation and transformation in the department.

DA MPL Nceba Hinana wanted to know if the department was satisfied with representation on its organogram.

Gooch in defence said since the last time they appeared before the committee they’ve appointed several senior female staff members: “We are doing our best to identify and ask women who we believe are competent and fit for purpose to apply for positions, so that we can try and improve the gender and the equity.”

ANC MPL Cameron Dugmore said he was concerned that the department could not present a plan to address critical appointments to monitor health and education infrastructure projects.

“We expected more clarity around the filling of the most critical post.

“It seems the department continues to lack the capacity to monitor properly both health and education infrastructure projects.

“We’ve seen last year what the consequences are when the department does not have that capacity.”

OF THE PROVINCE’S 6 522KM SURFACED ROADS, 5 690 WERE IN A FAIR-TO-VERY-GOOD CONDITION, 90% OF ALL VEHICLES TRAVEL OF FAIR-TO-VERYGOOD ROADS