The DA in Limpopo has written questions to the Limpopo MEC for Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure, Ernest Rachoene, due to concerns regarding the alleged appointment of a contractor without due process and incomplete road maintenance work on the D1836 in Lephalale.
This follows the DA being inundated with concerns from residents about the Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure (DPWRI) allegedly appointing a contractor from Phalaborwa with no equipment to work on this flood damaged road during the week of 17 – 21 March 2025 and the contractor also expected the farmers to provide the TLB and other heavy vehicle equipment.
The D1836 road stretches from Lephalale (Ellisras) up to the R33. DPWRI maintains 24 kilometres and the rest that stretches to the R33 is not maintained at all. This De Hoek area is regularly affected by floods which impacts the conditions of their roads.
From 2009 DPWRI gave written permission for the community to maintain the road. The community had to draft a maintenance plan for themselves and to get the road in such a condition that they can actually use it. The community used their own equipment to repair the road and to transport material to allow the DPWRI grader to grade the road that was badly damaged by the flood.
On 25 January 2025 a meeting was held and representatives of the DPWRI, the Municipal Mayor and the Municipal Manager promised support after the flood, and then seemingly without any consultation with the community, or any due process, the DPWRI appointed this contractor who allegedly indicated that he will not visit the road himself but will send people and a bakkie to replace two sets of pipes and repair 600 metres of the road.
The DA will ask questions in the Provincial Legislature to acquire information with regards to this tender as the road is still not fully rehabilitated according to the community. The DA cares about the safety of road users and is committed to ensure that residents have access to adequate provincial road infrastructure.