RAL silent over incomplete R522 road

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07-10-2024
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Zoutnet
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Marie Helm, the Democratic Alliance’s provincial spokesperson for Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure, has joined the fight to hold the Road Agency Limpopo (RAL) accountable regarding the “upgrading” of the R522 (P98/2) road between Louis Trichardt and Vivo.

For months now, the stop-start approach by contractors appointed by RAL to work on the road has left road users frustrated. In July this year, RAL came under severe criticism for the snail’s pace at which preventative maintenance was taking place. In mid-April this year, large parts of the road’s surface were completely removed, turning sections into a deadly dirt-road deathtrap. At the time, RAL spokesperson Mr Danny Legodi stated that work had not stopped and that several projects, broken down into phases, were either completed, already running, or in their implementation stages.

Following a media report on the slow pace of construction work, there was a brief period of optimism from residents and road users when construction workers were seen returning to the sites. This optimism was, however, short-lived.

By the end of August this year, all construction work on the project had again come to a halt, and RAL was asked once more to explain why. “As previously communicated, the R522 (P98/2) project is under a preventative maintenance contract T1256C. This includes resurfacing, pothole repairs, and drainage system improvements. Roads Agency Limpopo (RAL) is aware that work on the R522 road has paused, and we understand the impact this may have. Currently, RAL is addressing some site operational matters that have temporarily affected progress,” was the response received from Luyanda Sithole, RAL’s communications manager, adding that they were working diligently to resolve these issues and would provide an update on the resumption of work as soon as possible.

The logical assumption was that the “site operational matters” Sithole referred to were related to the fact that the RAL Board had ceased to exist in July after three of its members resigned, leaving the board unable to form a quorum. On 19 August, Limpopo MEC for Public Works, Roads, and Infrastructure, Mr Ernest Rachoene, announced the appointment of an interim accounting authority for RAL. The interim authority was appointed in terms of Section 49(3) of the Public Finance Management Act 1999.

Since the appointment of the interim accounting authority, little to no progress has been made on the P98/2 road project, prompting Helm to respond.

In a statement issued by her last week, Helm called on RAL to act urgently by prioritising the completion of the P98/2 road from Vivo to Louis Trichardt, “as this is fast becoming a death zone, affecting economic activity in the area and threatening the future of one of the most iconic cycle tours in Limpopo.”

Helm was, of course, referring to the annual Kremetart One Day Stage Race. “The incomplete road project previously contributed to the postponement of the Kremetart Cycle Race from September 2023 to June 2024, in part due to persistent roadworks, and the cycle tour was again cancelled in 2024. The Kremetart Cycle Tour is estimated to contribute about R20 million to the province’s economy,” Helm said.

Helm stated that the road had remained incomplete after many years since the project began and that work on it had seemingly paused. “The poor condition of this half-built road is dangerous and has led to damage to vehicles as well as accidents that have already claimed lives,” said Helm.

She added that the completion of this road had been neglected for many years. “The P98/2 road project remains incomplete and paused, despite being recorded at 53% completion in the 22/23 RAL infrastructure progress report. During the Budget Vote 2023/24 speech, the previous MEC for DPWRI, Nkakareng Rakgoale, said that phase one of the maintenance of road P98/2 is complete. The question is, how long will the communities have to wait before the upgrade of the road is finished?” asked Helm.

RAL was asked to provide an update regarding the resumption of construction work on the incomplete phases last week. By Wednesday this week, no response had been received. In the meantime, Helm stated that she would raise the issue of the incomplete project again during the next portfolio committee meeting of the Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure in the provincial legislature on 9 October. “RAL will then have to answer questions, as they will be present,” Helm said on Wednesday.