Budget constraints hindering repairs to storm-damaged road between Caledon & Hermanus - Simmers
Budget contraints are hindering repairs to Hemel-en-Aarde road between Caledon and Hermanus, which is still being fixed after inclement weather conditions battered the area over the past two years.
Western Cape Minister of Infrastructure Tertuis Simmers. Picture: @Min_TSimmers/X
CAPE TOWN - Budget contraints are hindering repairs to Hemel-en-Aarde road between Caledon and Hermanus, which is still being fixed after inclement weather conditions battered the area over the past two years.
With a stop-and go system now in place, large sections of the road remain severely damaged.
Western Cape MEC for Infrastructure Tertuis Simmers said that while he was pleased with the progress being made, budget constraints remain an issue.
"In my latest report to the standing committee on infrastructure, I noted that the cost of repairing damage to the provincial road network since June 2023 is estimated at more than R1.8bn, but my department only received R350 million for these repairs."
Simmers said that the budget shortfall had a significant impact on how quickly repairs could be done on roads.
"Unfortunately, timelines for repairs on this section of the Hemel-en-Aarde road can only be determined once budget has been allocated. Similarly, with regards to cost, it is not possible to provide a definite figure at this point."
Simmers said that parts of the project would only go to tender next year and once the budget had been allocated, timelines would be communicated to the public.