Newly upgraded road to link 10 Sekhukhune villages to essential socio – economic development services

The newly upgraded road enhances the movement of goods and people, thereby improving village economy of the district.

NEWLY

UPGRADED ROAD

TO LINK 10 SEKHUKHUNE VILLAGES TO ESSENTIAL SOCIO – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

ore than 9 villages will now travel smoothly on a tarred road to access various economic development services such as schools, health care facilities and Marble Hall town.

Roads Agency Limpopo (RAL), has recently completed an upgrade of 22.5km of road D4370, from Tompi Seleka to Phokwane in the Sekhukhune District. RAL is responsible for more than 20 000km of Limpopo’s provincial road network.

MCommunity members have expressed their appreciation to RAL for the road as it has reduced a number of travelling challenges, which they previously experienced. The community has also hailed the project for the employment opportunities it availed to them during its implementation phase, which took 48 months. See the Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), empowerment article on page 22. According to Mr Tshebane Nkoana, Ward 13 Councillor in the Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality, RAL’s decision to heed their plea for a new road upgrade, has set their ward up for potential economic growth. “Several businesses are operating adjacent to the new road including a new brick company situated at Disenyane, which benefit Mathukuthela and Phokwane communities, among others. The community has also seen an increase in the purchase of new stands in the area as a result of the road,” said the councilor. Nkoana further pleaded with the community to take care of the road by addressing problems related to the road

“SEVERAL BUSINESSES ARE OPERATING ADJACENT TO THE NEW ROAD INCLUDING A NEW BRICK COMPANY SITUATED AT DISENYANE, WHICH

BENEFIT MATHUKUTHELA AND PHOKWANE COMMUNITIES, AMONG OTHERS. THE COMMUNITY HAS ALSO SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE PURCHASE OF NEW STANDS IN THE AREA AS A RESULT OF THE ROAD.”

Fully furnished road with road markings and signs ensures the safety of motorists and pedestrians.

Road D4370 remains the pride and joy of stakeholders that oversaw its successful completion.

Ms Mary Maphanga, Community Liaison Officer of the project, appreciates the benefits associated with the project which included hiring of 73 community members to sustain their livelihoods. Mr Tshebane Nkoana, Ward 13 Councillor in the Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality says the road is the legacy for the ten benefiting communities, as such they will preserve it for the future generations.

in a civilised manner without damaging it.

Sharing Nkoana’s sentiments was the Community Liaison Officer (CLO) of the project, Ms Mary Maphanga and Morongoa Manamela, an Educator at Kgopolo e botse Primary School.

“Before the construction of this new road, everything was far from us, and we suffered extensively that some women had to give birth alongside the road due to a lack of available transport,” said a cheerful Maphanga.

“In instances where there was heavy rainfall, our children could not go to school because of the mud,” commented Manamela.

According to Mr Brutus Matsha, the RAL Project Manager, this is one of RAL’s most successful projects where work was executed peacefully with the assistance of community members.

The completion of the road enhanced access to Mokgoma Primary School, Mokgerethe Secondary School, Phokwane Police Station, and Phokwane Education Circuit Office including the Tompi Seleka College of Agriculture, and Matlala Hospital.