Nxumalo says approximately 50% of the provincial road network is in a poor to very poor state and despite political promises very little improvement is in evidence. "Ineffective institutional structures, poor planning and financing, and a lack of management skills, are principally to blame. This is very troubling given the critical importance of South Africa's road network to the economy. The road network is of enormous value, not only as a means for facilitating the efficient transportation of goods and services, but as a capital asset. In fact if our road network was valued as a company it would feature in the Fortune 500 listing.

He says that SARF rejuvenation strategy is based on:

·    A re-examination of institutional structures for road provision

·    A planned approach of training and mentoring engineering graduates and the re-introduction of experienced professionals in road authorities

·    The reduction or elimination of political interference in the management of the road network 

·    Improved planning and pro-active maintenance programmes

·    More effective use of financial resources

·    Improvements aimed at gaining the maximum utilisation from the available infrastructure.

Nxumalo believes that this strategy is certainly within our grasp. "Essentially what is currently lacking is the political will to implement it and the longer we fence sit the greater the eventual cost to the entire economy."

Nxumalo concluded by saying that a recent doctoral thesis prepared for Johannesburg University on South Africa's transport policy demonstrated that the major problem was not so much a question of poor policy, but rather an inability to implement policy. Numerous political figures, including the State President have also spoken about the policy implementation problem.