PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE GIVES RAL HIGH MARKS IN YEAR-END ASSESSMENT
The Chairperson of the Limpopo Legislature Portfolio Committee (PC) on Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure, Honourable Makoma Makhurupetje says she is content with the work done by the Roads Agency Limpopo (RAL).
This comes after the Portfolio Committee successfully undertook oversight visits in November and December 2020 to all the five districts of Limpopo Province to assess various road infrastructure projects under the management of RAL, which is responsible for delivering quality roads in the province.
Hon Makhurupetje notes that, after touring the province together with her Portfolio Committee, they are satisfied with the quality of the roads they inspected.
She says since the dawn of democracy in South Africa, many communities have received quality roads, but there are others who are still waiting due to lack of funds. She is confident that soon, the latter will also receive their roads.
“With the manner in which RAL is operating, we are confident that tarred roads will eventually reach where they are supposed to. What RAL and the Limpopo Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure (LDPWRI) need to do is to communicate frequently with those still waiting for their roads to
know when their roads will be constructed.”
She acknowledges that since RAL is operating with a limited budget to service the whole province, the Portfolio Committee needs to negotiate with the legislature when RAL and LDPWRI need more funds for the road projects.
“RAL is delivering quality roads with a limited budget; hence it is incumbent on the Portfolio Committee to lobby the government to support RAL financially towards improving our roads,” says Hon Makhurupetje.
Hon Makhurupetje says that since road infrastructure has an impact on the performance of the economy and other aspects such as health and education, all sectors should join hands in helping RAL to improve the roads.
In her conclusion, she notes that “the oversight was an eye opener, as we can now connect the content in the reports with what transpires on the ground”.
Amongst the projects visited by the PC is the 47 kilometre maintenance project on road D3840, which joins R81 from Kremetart to Mbaula, in the Greater Giyani Local Municipality of Mopani District. Some parts of the road need major rehabilitation, whereas others need pothole patching and texture correction. The maintenance work is expected to be completed by June 2021.
In the Vhembe District, the Portfolio Committee witnessed the ongoing 3km upgrading, from gravel to bituminous (tarred) surface, of road D3688 connecting the Khubvi and Tshidzivhe and Damani villages in the Thulamela Local Municipality.
The project began in July 2019 and is expected to be completed by February 2021. Upon completion, the road will benefit the surrounding communities in numerous ways including boosting the local tourism economy.
In the Sekhukhune District, after learning that the people of Ga-Riba, near Burgersfort, in the Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality are on the verge of receiving a new tarred road, the Portfolio Committee was vividly impressed.
The ongoing 11km road project in the area connecting to R37 is expected to be completed in March 2021.
Although the road passes through a range of mountains, its completion is expected to unlock inherent economic potential among the local communities.
In the Waterberg District, the Portfolio Committee inspected the resumption of a stalled road project.
However, a strategic partnership between RAL and Exarro Mine in Lephalale has facilitated the resumption of the project, which is 14km long from Abbotspoort to Kiti, to be completed by end of May 2021.
This will ease transport challenges experienced by commuters who work in the local mines in Lephalale.
Meanwhile in the Capricorn District, the Portfolio Committee inspected part of the 9.5km tarred road D1468 (Mmileng Issue 1 of 2020), which connects several villages between Senwabarwana and Indermark in the Blouberg Local Municipality. The quality road project was completed in 2019 with a surplus budget.
Cognisant of the above developments, RAL CEO Gabriel Maluleke assured the Portfolio Committee that his team will continue working hard to ensure that all the projects are completed on time. He further remarked that since RAL and LDPWRI are working together for better roads, there will be proper coordination to ensure that routine maintenance is carried out in all the rehabilitated and newly tarred roads in the province.
“RAL IS DELIVERING QUALITY ROADS WITH A LIMITED BUDGET; HENCE IT IS INCUMBENT ON THE PORTFOLIO
COMMITTEE TO LOBBY THE GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT RAL.”