SANRAL’s priority is to ensure there is a viable primary road network in place that can serve as a catalyst for economic growth and development. 

Our mandate as the national road’s agency is to finance, improve, manage and maintain South Africa’s national road infrastructure.  

Roads in Limpopo have improved significantly since their handover to SANRAL. This has been no easy task, but it has been worth it.  

From SANRAL’s perspective, we have made sizeable investments in infrastructure projects in Limpopo ranging from new road construction and major improvements, to special maintenance and rehabilitation projects.  

Our priority is to ensure there is a viable primary road network in place that can serve as a catalyst for economic growth and development, and facilitate the efficient delivery of all services to communities.  

World-class roads 

Let’s talk about some of the great work our world-class team of engineers has been doing on parts of the 3 645km of Limpopo’s roads under SANRAL’s management.  

They have placed a major focus on ensuring these roads are engineered to international standards, and for the safe and efficient mobility of road users.  

While we have been working hard to maintain these high standards, we have encountered some challenges.  

From delays of some of our project work due to higher than usual temperatures, to a complete halt of work on the Polokwane and Musina ring roads due to financial troubles experienced by the contractor. 

It is with great pleasure, however, I can confirm that there is progress on these sections of the N1, which is a key link to the rest of Africa.  

Another notable project underway in Limpopo is the rehabilitation of the R81 from Gasekgopo to Munnik.  

We are excited about this improvement as the deterioration of this road posed a major safety risk to road users.  

The road works on the R573 (Limpopo section) are progressing well.  

Limpopo remains a key player in the improvement of our country’s economy. Our routine road maintenance projects will also go a long way towards uninterrupted mobility for road users wanting to take advantage of the province’s booming tourism, agriculture and mining industries in the province.  

As has become customary for SANRAL in recent years, the regional team, as part of our ongoing engagements with communities around the country, hosted a Taking SANRAL to Elias Motsoaledi event where pertinent discussions around the empowerment of emerging black–owned businesses took place.  

It is our belief that through these engagements and the implementation of our transformation policy, we will be able to meaningfully contribute to the eradication of poverty, unemployment and inequality. 

This is an opinion piece by Skhumbuzo Macozoma, SANRAL’s CEO