GOOD Statement by Sam Shabane,
GOOD National Chairperson
20 July 2023
The GOOD party calls on City of Joburg officials to prioritise the safety of residents and find the cause of yesterday’s explosion in the CBD.
Late yesterday, a blast rocked the Johannesburg CBD killing one and leaving scores injured. The explosion caused severe damage to the busy road.
The cause of the Lilian Ngoyi Street blast is yet to be determined and EMS has already warned of a possible secondary collapse.
As the GOOD Party we are calling on officials to get to the bottom of the blast urgently to avoid a repeat incident. One life lost, is a life too many.
Our city’s road infrastructure cannot sustain any further damage. The Johannesburg Roads Agency is already taking strain financially and unable to maintain the quality expected of our roads.
Years of neglect by office bearers have left the city’s infrastructure in a shocking state.
Motorists are gambling with their lives when they drive on the city’s roads.
According to the Johannesburg Roads Agency’s 2021/2022 annual report, 90% of the city’s bridges were found to be in poor condition.
It is estimated that R1.2-billion is needed to fix 68 bridges requiring urgent rehabilitation and reconstruction.
This will take up the majority of the JRA’s 2023/24 budget.
The agency has been allocated a three-year capital budget of R2.5-billion and an operating budget of R1.5-billion for the 2023/24 financial year.
It is too early to estimate the costs of the infrastructure damage from yesterday’s explosion, but it is safe to say the JRA cannot afford this unexpected blow.
GOOD sends our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims.
Media Enquiries:
Sam Shabane, GOOD National Chairperson
Cell: 078 621 4042
Email: sams@forgood.org.za
Samantha Jackson, GOOD Acting Media Manager
Cell: 083 550 9875
Email: media@forgood.org.za