Dr Leon Schreiber, the DA’s shadow minister of public service and administration, has released a statement on the current state of South Africa’s transportation infrastructure, blaming the ANC for damage and neglect.
According to Dr Schreiber, the ANC’s governance has led to the collapse of 3 636 kilometres of railway tracks since 1994.
Dr Schreiber noted that this figure, revealed in response to a parliamentary question by the DA and confirmed by Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan, equates to a roundtrip distance from Johannesburg to Durban, covered three times.
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Gordhan also reportedly referred to the theft of Transnet’s copper cables, stating that, between 2019 and 2023, 4 633 kilometres of copper cable were reported stolen.
‘Our country’s roadways have similarly not been spared from ANC-engineered destruction,’ said Dr Schreiber.
He continued, ‘In response to another DA question posed to the Minister of Transport, it was revealed that out of the 22 197 kilometres of national roads managed by SANRAL, only 449 kilometres, 688 kilometres and 1 308 kilometres were resurfaced in 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively. This means that each year, the ANC maintains only about 2% of national roadways.’
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Dr Schreiber contrasted this situation with the ANC’s celebratory events, inferring that they were inappropriate given the country’s crumbling infrastructure.
‘While the ANC eats cake and sips champagne at its annual celebration this week, South Africa is crumbling under their watch. The party’s bash in Mpumalanga is nothing less than a vulgar celebration of the destruction and suffering that the ANC has unleashed on the people of this country,’ he said.
He stated that the DA’s governance, particularly in the Western Cape, showcases a stark difference, with well-maintained roads and respected public infrastructure.
‘In sharp contrast to the ANC, where the DA governs, including in the Western Cape, infrastructure is maintained and expanded. Roads are in world-class condition and public infrastructure is respected as valuable shared assets.’
The statement concluded with a call to action for voters, encouraging them to support the DA in the upcoming elections as a means to bring South Africa ‘back on track.’
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