According to Gauteng DA spokesperson on roads, Graham Gersbach, in a service level agreement which was supposed to be signed in December 2014 but was not, Sanral and the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GDRAT) had still not ensured that the lights on Gauteng’s freeways would be adequately maintained. Gersbach said this was revealed in a roads and transport committee meeting held at the provincial legislature.
He said, “This agreement would ensure that Sanral would repair and maintain lights on provincial roads, including the R24 [Albertina Sisulu freeway] from Johannesburg to OR Tambo International Airport.”
He added that while roads department and Sanral sort out their past mistakes, and legal departments are sitting on the draft agreement, no maintenance and repairs are being done to any lighting on provincial roads across Gauteng. “Residents are at risk of motor vehicle accidents due to poor lighting – while crimes at off ramps continue to escalate,” said Gersbach.
In his response Sanral spokesperson, Vusi Mona confirmed they were working with the roads department on a service level agreement to maintain lighting on certain provincial roads. But he highlighted that Sanral was only approached in November 2014 to provide this service.
“The finalisation of any service level agreement unfortunately does not happen overnight. Typically it includes meetings to define the work area and scope of works required. Onsite meeting and investigations to quantify the works, the costing of the works, and the set-up of a draft agreement by workshopping this agreement between the parties,” Mona said.
He added that after the draft agreement has been set up, this needs to be approved by both parties’ legal departments. Mona also said the finance departments also need input into this agreement, and once all parties are happy with the agreement, the agreement may be signed.
“Roads only become part of the Sanral network on instruction of the minister of transport through a government gazette. Until that happens we have no jurisdiction to maintain roads or make upgrades such as improved lighting,” Mona said. He added that the safety and well-being of road users are key to Sanral. Mona said, “We are keen to finalise the agreement with GDRAT and get to work.”
