Government spent R22 million to fix potholes on an important road but they remain open seven months later

Numerous potholes remain open along the Christiana-Hertzogville road towards the Dealesvilles and R64 intersection.

These potholes continue to endanger motorists despite the Free State government having spent R22 million to fill them.

The Christiana–Hertzogville road connects the agricultural town of Christiana in the North West province across the Vaal River to Hertzogville in the Free State.

It covers approximately 55 kilometres, bridging the regional gap between the eastern edge of the North West and the northwestern Free State.

It serves as a regional link for local farming communities moving produce and equipment between Free State agricultural hubs and the N12 corridor at Christiana.

Despite the road’s importance, local traffic reports and regional alerts frequently rate this stretch as being in extremely poor condition.

Large sections suffer from severe bitumen loss, missing road shoulders, and deep, continuous potholes.

This is what the Free State province tried to address with the R22 million project, but it failed to execute it well.

Provincial records show the latest resealing and fog-spray package for the route consisted of a first claim of R2.74 million in February 2026, followed by a second claim of R14 million in March 2026.

This equates to R16.74 million over two months, with reports that pothole-repair work along that corridor has come to a standstill since then.

31 people were employed to repair potholes during this period, but Free State Provincial Legislature Member David McKay said there had been little visible work done.

“Motorists are still forced to navigate a dangerous, visibly deteriorating road,” McKay said in a press statement.

“A claim is not proof of quality work. A declaration of completion means nothing if the road itself tells a different story.”

“Public money cannot vanish into paperwork while residents pay the price in damaged vehicles, delayed travel and unsafe conditions.”

McKay said he would seek an independent technical inspection on the pothole repairs, as well as the release of all payments and completion certificates related to the project.

He requested the Free State Department of Roads to immediately disclose whether any further payments had been made, and the scope and quantity of the work certified.

He called on the Free State Provincial Government to provide all inspection reports, photographs, invoices, the names of those who signed off on the work, and the basis on which they signed.

He also said that anybody found to have approved work that was not adequately delivered should be held accountable and face the appropriate consequences.

“If an independent assessment finds the work incomplete, defective or improperly certified, the contractor and subcontractor must be compelled to correct it at their own cost,” McKay said.

“Officials who authorise payment or certification without proper verification must face disciplinary action and, where warranted, criminal consequences.”

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Photos of the potholes on the Christiana-Hertzogville road

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