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Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga inspected "Operation Valazonke" projects before unveiling the R1.1 billion upgrade of the R23 highway in Standerton, a large commercial and agricultural town which lies on the banks of the Vaal River in Mpumalanga, on Monday.
Valazonke aims to fix potholes across South Africa through labour-intensive collaborative work. Despite launching the nationwide Valazonke initiative in 2022, the country's roads were marred by a staggering 1.9 million potholes last year alone, according to Chikunga.
SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) CEO Reginald Demana, Mpumalanga MEC for Public Works, Roads and Transport Mandla Ndlovu and Lekwa Local Municipality Executive Mayor Delani Thabethe accompanied Chikunga on Monday.
The minister emphasised the importance of "Operation Valazonke" in addressing the challenges faced by taxi drivers and commuters.
She told journalists:
READ: Potholes everywhere: How to navigate SA's 25m craters and to avoid costly tyre damage
Following the inspection, Chikunga unveiled the upgraded R23 highway, a project undertaken by Sanral at a cost of R1.1 billion. This comprehensive project covers the 80km national road upgrade, 112 km of emergency repairs and the rehabilitation of six bridges.
Chikunga applauded the R23 upgrades as a testament to South African engineering expertise: "This state-of-the-art road showcases the talent we have in our country," she said, emphasising its potential to attract investment and boost economic growth.
Highlighting the significant investment, Chikunga elaborated:
She underscored the extensive investment in road infrastructure and the tangible improvements achieved. "This is the economic route, linked to Gauteng to the sea, in other words Johannesburg all the way via Standerton, all the way to Richards Bay it's a major upgrade to this arterial," she said.
Chikunga added that a collaborative pothole patching initiative would be piloted in Standerton, in partnership with Sanral, to further enhance road trafficability. "We can't have high-quality roads like the R23 with excellent markings and lighting, only to be met with pothole-ridden town roads. We need seamless transitions," she said.
She also highlighted the project's focus on skills training, empowering the participants for future employment opportunities.
Demana revealed that the Standerton project was a pilot ahead of the nationwide rollout of Valazonke. The Sanral boss emphasised the crucial role of collaboration, with the road agency providing technical expertise and resources to ensure lasting repairs.
READ: Sanral pumps R4.5 billion into upgrading SA’s most dangerous road
"In this particular area, we are assisting with the bags of materials to ensure that they use the right products," he said. "We are also making sure that the quality of the work that is done and level of compaction is up to the right standard."
Demana reiterated the importance of long-lasting repairs to prevent future potholes.
Ndlovu expressed his support for the project, commending the team's collaborative effort in bringing it to completion.
