Central SA
Political parties welcome termination of contractor on R708 road project─── ZENANDE MPAME 15:25 Mon, 27 Oct 2025
Political parties have welcomed the Free State government’s decision to terminate the contractor responsible for the R708 road project between Marquard and Clocolan.
The project contract was terminated due to non-performance by the appointed contractor. The project started in February, and by October, it had achieved only 3% progress despite being allocated sufficient time and resources.
A new contractor will be appointed in the next three weeks to ensure the continuation of the project. The department of community safety, roads, and transport also plans to meet with local community members to address concerns and communicate next steps.
An oversight visit by the DA revealed work on site had come to a near standstill, with minimal staffing and limited visible progress. This stretch of road has long been the site of community frustration.
In July, communities, including farmers and taxi associations, staged protests and even partially closed the road to demand urgent repairs, citing dangerous conditions and a lack of response from the provincial department.
“While the termination of the contractor is a welcome step in addressing the prolonged process,” said Setsoto DA Cllr Riëtte Dell. “The department must take full responsibility for the lack of due diligence in appointing a contractor that did not possess the necessary technical and financial capacity to complete the project.
“We will be seeking clarity on the associated costs to ensure that any instances of fruitless or wasteful expenditure are recovered and that the department is held fully accountable.
“The DA will continue to monitor the new procurement process closely, ensuring that the appointment of a new contractor is conducted efficiently and that public funds are utilised responsibly.”
The project had originally been scheduled to begin in late 2024 with a 24-month completion timeline.
The Free State premier, MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae, addressed community concerns regarding the termination of contracts on the R708 between Clocolan and Thaba Nchu on Wednesday (22/10) during a budget exco planning lekgotla.
She compared the situation to previous long-delayed public infrastructure projects. “If a contractor has been on site for six months or even a year and progress remains at only 3%, then it’s clear that the project will never be completed on time.
“We don’t want to have projects that take 15 years to finish.”
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