The one province in South Africa where less than 10% of roads are paved

An in-depth study by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has revealed that less than 10% of roads in the Eastern Cape (EC) are paved.

Of the approximately 40,150km of roads in the province, the SAHRC found that only 3,808km were paved, reflecting a 9.5% portion.

This is in stark contrast to the rest of the country where the average paving ratio sits around 25%.

Adding insult to injury, the SAHRC labelled the poor condition of the province’s existing roads – both tarred and non-tarred – as a human rights violation.

They have caused many grievances for EC residents, with ambulances unable to reach sick people, children being unable to get to school, and washed-out roads cutting off entire villages and forcing families to go without food.

The dilapidated infrastructure has also diminished job opportunities for inhabitants of rural EC communities who can’t get to and from their places of employment dependably.

Tourism, one of the province’s most vital revenue generators, has likewise been harmed, as certain attractions and accommodations have become inaccessible.

The EC Department of Transport (ECDoT) itself confirmed that the condition of the province’s roads is of grave concern, with no roads rated as “very good” since 1996.

Practicable solutions, poor finances

The ECDoT said that funding remains the biggest hurdle to shaping up its roads.

The entity highlighted that it would require an estimated R30.5 billion to service the road maintenance backlog, R17.2 billion to re-gravel unpaved roads, and R48 billion to perform a comprehensive reseal/patch rehabilitation programme on paved roads.

Meanwhile, the department only has an annual budget allocation of around R700 million, allowing it to address some 42km of roads a year at an average of R18 million per kilometre.

As a result, the ECDoT estimates that addressing the backlog alone would take roughly 25 years, meaning if it starts today, the backlog would be eliminated in 2050.

The SAHRC, meanwhile, has made several recommendations to address the Eastern Cape’s road woes.

It has called upon National Treasury to urgently address the province’s infrastructure backlog by increasing funding allocations.

Alternative funding mechanisms are available, too, such as a once-off fuel levy.

While it would likely be met with backlash, such a levy “could be an effective strategy to bring the province’s road infrastructure up to par with the national standard, while also stimulating economic development,” said the SAHRC.

Furthermore, the SAHRC said the Department of Transport, both at national and provincial levels, must prioritise the upgrade and maintenance of critical routes that serve key facilities such as hospitals, schools, and police stations.

“In particular, the road networks that serve the agricultural and tourism sectors must be given special attention to ensure that these vital industries can operate effectively and contribute to the provincial economy,” it said.

District municipalities must also play a role in ensuring that road maintenance grants, such as the Provincial Roads Maintenance Grant, are fully utilised.

The adoption of systems like the Road Asset Management System will enhance planning and resource allocation, too.

It is furthermore recommended that district municipalities ensure each local municipality has a fully operational yellow fleet to carry out routine and emergency road maintenance, thus reducing dependency on provincial intervention.

The National Roads Agency, as a key player in national road management, should take over the management of provincial roads as well, said the SAHRC.

“This would enable the prioritisation of road maintenance and improvements across the Eastern Cape, with a clear focus on addressing the backlog and ensuring that the province reaches parity with other provinces in terms of road infrastructure within a targeted timeframe,” it said.

The ECDoT said it has developed a four-category plan to clear the remaining work, focusing first on maintaining existing infrastructure before expanding and building new ones.

The main areas of concern include improving scholar transport and maintaining access to essential services including hospitals, schools, and tourism sites.