The aftermath of protests has caused significant damage to infrastructure and roads across the Western Cape province.

Sanral has in recent months had to invest in infrastructure repairs as a result of damage caused by public protest action.

Costs for road repairs on the N2 in Mossel Bay cost R16 333, George R 34 656, Knysna R 470 000 and Plettenberg Bay cost R609 000 (including street lights R1 129 989).

“In Cape Town on the N2 after the Swartklip Interchange, R56 835 has been spent on repairs directly linked to public protests,” said Western Cape region manager for Sanral, Randall Cable to iOL.

The city’s mayoral committee member for transport, Felicity Purchase said the city spent an additional R120 000 to repair two sets of traffic lights last month.

“This figure did not include the cost of the delays to commuters who were travelling along these roads; neither did it include the cost to clean the roads and the resurfacing of the damaged road surface,” said Purchase.

In terms of capital expenditure on roads construction projects undertaken by the department, protests may have a larger financial implication, in terms of their contractual agreement with civil engineering contractors.

“These delays and costs due to strike or protest action are seen as unforeseen, which means that the employer (province) can be held liable for proven standing time and extension of time costs resulting from these delays if the contractor is not at fault.”