The Minister of Transport, Mr Ben Martins, visited Vhembe this week on a mission to asses the damage caused to roads by the recent floods.

In his visit on Monday, Martins was accompanied by the MEC for Transport, Pitsi Moloto, Vhembe Executive Mayor Cllr Tshitereke Matibe, as well as local mayors.

After a long briefing session held at the Khoroni Hotel and Casino in Thohoyandou, Martins and his convoy went to Mapate via Lwamondo, where he crossed the Dzindi River via a make-shift bridge made of bamboo. After assessing the damage caused to the bridge, the delegation proceeded to Ha-Tshikonelo, where the bridge between Tshifudi and Ha-Tshikonelo has also been washed away.

The minister, who left for Pretoria on Tuesday, is expected to submit a report to the Cabinet, where a decision will then be taken to determine if Vhembe can be declared a disaster area. If the Cabinet decides to declare Vhembe a disaster area, the national government will release funds to help rebuild the damaged infrustructure in order to restore normality.

A spokesperson for the Vhembe District Municipality, Matodzi Ralushai, said it would be difficult for the municipality to restore normality in the area unless there was financial assistance from the national government.