Taxpayers handed over R17.2 billion to fix roads in South Africa – but they just got worse

• South Africa's road maintenance and infrastructure funding grew from R6.5 billion in 2012 to R17.2 billion in 2026.
• The quality of South Africa's roads has significantly deteriorated despite a 167% increase in funding, with provincial and municipal roads classified as D or E.
• The deteriorating condition of South Africa's roads is attributed to reactive management by provincial and local authorities, who wait for roads to fail before attempting repairs.