South Africa is expected to patch 3.7 million square kilometres of potholes over the next three years, according to the 2020 Budget Review.
It says the provincial roads maintenance grant has been allocated R36 billion to maintain the provincial road network by resealing a targeted 16 226 lane kilometres, rehabilitating 6 199 lane kilometres, and patching 3.7 million square kilometres of potholes.
This forms part of the public-sector infrastructure investment plans for transport and logistics, which total R308.3 billion over the medium term (three years).
This accounts for 37.8% of total infrastructure expenditure during this period.
These investments will “improve the transport network, enhance the mobility of people and service provision, reduce transport costs, and facilitate regional trade,” according to the Review.
Revenue from services provided by state-owned companies will help fund infrastructure investment, complemented by national and provincial allocations for road construction and maintenance of the non-toll network.
The South African National Roads Agency Limited has been allocated R64.6 billion over the medium term.
Of this amount, R35.4 billion will be used to improve and construct non-toll roads, R3.4 billion to construct the N2 Wild Coast highway, R2.5 billion to upgrade the R573 (Moloto Road) and R1.9 billion to compensate for reduced tariffs in the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project.
