Driving the growth of Limpopo
DR MONNICA MOCHADI
The Limpopo provincial government is committed to the expansion and improvement of our primary road network.
Roads play a critical role in all of the priority economic sectors identified in the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy, most notably tourism, agriculture, mining and commerce. The bulk of our products and services are carried on the primary road network and none of our world-class heritage and tourism sites would be accessible without the existence of well-designed and well-maintained roads.
It is encouraging to note that some of the critical construction projects that were placed on hold have now resumed. We are looking forward to the completion of both the Polokwane and Musina Ring Roads which will contribute greatly to improved traffic flows on the vital N1 freeway and create a much safer environment for all road users.
Road safety remains a major concern considering the high volumes of vehicles that travel on our roads, especially during high peak periods.
We thus welcome the installation of cutting-edge technology near the Kranskop Toll Plaza in Modimolle which have already contributed to a reduction in fatalities on one of the busiest stretches of roads.
SANRAL’s contribution to the transformation of the construction sector must be applauded. An increasing number of black-owned companies and enterprises owned by women are now participating in construction and road maintenance projects and acquiring skills that will enable them to grow and create more jobs.
This publication, Hello Limpopo, celebrates the productive relationship that exists between the South African National Roads Agency and the province of Limpopo. Through the years we have built a partnership in which we share experience and professional expertise. We are grateful for this partnership which will continue to provide the backbone for future growth and development in Limpopo.
Dr Monnica Mochadi is the MEC for Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure
World-class roads for Limpopo’s success
SKHUMBUZO MACOZOMA
Our mandate as the national roads 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 definitely been worth it.
From SANRAL’s perspective, we have made sizeable investments in infrastructure projects in Limpopo ranging from new road construction, to major improvements, to special maintenance and rehabilitation projects.
Our priority is to ensure that there is a viable primary road network in place which can serve as a catalyst for economic growth and development and facilitate the efficient delivery of all services to communities.
In this edition of Hello Limpopo, we take a look at some of the great work our world-class team of engineers has been doing on parts of the 3 645 km of Limpopo’s roads under SANRAL’s management. They have placed a major focus on ensuring that 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, that 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 Gasekgopo to Munnik. We are indeed 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) is 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 blackowned 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.
Happy Limpopo reading.
Skhumbuzo Macozoma is the SANRAL CEO
BUILDING SOUTH AFRICA THROUGH BETTER ROADS
HELLO LIMPOPO 2019