RAL - In the Forefront to Eradicate the Road Infrastructure Backlog

RAL IN THE FOREFRONT

TO ERADICATE THE ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE BACKLOG IN THE LIMPOPO PROVINCE

Roads Agency Limpopo (RAL) continues to play the leading role in improving Limpopo’s road infrastructure network.

RAL, led by its Shareholder Representative, Honourable MEC for Limpopo Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure (LDPWRI) Mme Nkakareng Rakgoale believes maintaining the existing Limpopo road infrastructure is key for the province’s economic development. The MEC shares the view that, it is through properly thought-out maintenance plans that government can prolong the sustainability of its road assets. The MEC recently launched the Limpopo leg of Operation #ThibaMekotiDitseleng which was initiated by the National Department of Transport under the banner #ValaZonke, aimed at fast-tracking the patching of potholes on the country’s roads. The initiative continues to minimise road users’ challenges associated with pothole-riddled roads, thereby ensuring safe and enhanced driving on Limpopo's road network.

Several motorists and road users have welcomed the initiative and have shared their delight stating that with potholes being fixed, the initiative is enhancing their safety. Some of the The campaign led by Roads Agency Limpopo together with the Limpopo Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure to fix the province’s potholed roads, is bearing fruit and road users are beaming with joy.

roads have been in a bad condition for some time. Before the pothole patching on the road, the damage would cause unwarranted disturbances including tyre punctures and accidents. This would be high risk for women who become vulnerable when urgent medical road-side assistance is compromised.

Districts and local municipalities representatives have also hailed the initiative for bringing the muchneeded relief in their communities. Fixing the potholes will minimise the damages incurred by local drivers on their vehicles. Most of the officials believe that with good roads, investors will also be incentivised to do business in their areas, which will create job opportunities for people who live in abject poverty in the province.

According to MEC Rakgoale, most roads in the province are in a bad state, exacerbated by heavy rains experienced previously. She maintains that with Operation #ThibaMekotiDitseleng, LDPWRI and its entity RAL, aims to do its best to close all the potholes so that road users can travel without any hassles.

The campaign will focus on the most problematic roads in all the districts where all critical roads that need urgent attention will be prioritised. In addition to the campaign, RAL plans to accelerate its rehabilitation and preventative maintenance >

programmes targeting roads that have mostly depleted their life span.

Operation #ThibaMekotiDitseleng is aimed at fast-tracking LDPWRI’s efforts to patch potholes on the province’s roads targeting at patching 180 000 square metres of potholes, which is 12% of the province’s 6 263 paved road network. In rolling out the operation, Hon MEC Rakgoale and RAL Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Gabriel Maluleke visited all the districts in the province to gain insight on the condition of the roads and what the residents of the province go through when driving on Limpopo’s provincial roads. This subsequently prompted LDPWRI and RAL to put in place all the necessary systems to deal with the prevailing challenges to ensure that most of the potholes are eradicated.

The first activation was conducted in Blouberg Local Municipality, within the Capricorn District on road D1468 which is currently on 1 127m² patched surface to date. This was followed by an activation in Makhado Local Municipality on road D2814 in the Vhembe District, with progress of 1 522m² patched surface.

The team continued to the Mopani District where road D8 surface within the Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality is patched up to 1440m². The activation proceeded on road D2219, GaMalekana to Tshehlwaneng within the Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality, Sekhukhune District which currently has about 216m² progress of patched surface. The last leg of the district activation took place within the Waterberg District on road R516 from Modimolle to Mookgophong. The progress for the road is currently at 3 236m² of patched surface. LDPWRI continues to monitor progress throughout all the districts, to ensure effective delivery of the campaign.

Having witnessed the launch and strides made thus far on numerous roads within Capricorn, Mopani, Sekhukhune, Vhembe and the Waterberg districts, scores of road users are beaming with joy as they anticipate travelling smoothly and efficiently on pothole-free roads. 

ROADS AGENCY LIMPOPO: 2021-2022 APP

Contact Details: Tel: 015 284 4600 or 087 057 0583

Fax: 015 284 4602 Email: info@ral.co.za Address: 26 Rabe Street Polokwane, 0700 P O BOX: Private Bag X9554 Polokwane, 0700

ANNUAL PERFORMANCE PLAN 2021/2022 DATE FOR TABLING: 18 MARCH 2021

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