The long-awaited tarring of the D4 road and the upgrading of the road between the Matsakali villages to Altein in Malamulele has just begun.

The construction of the 17,8 kilometres, which will cost more than R116 million, started last Friday and is expected to be completed next December.

Mr Shadrack Makhuvha, project manager of Edwin Construction, the constructors of the road, said that the affected communities would benefit from the project through jobs, training and the obtaining of other skills. Sub-contractors will also be needed to render certain services.

"We purchased our taxis through the recapitalisation process of the the government, but due to the bumpy and dusty D4 road, our taxis got damaged very quickly and the maintenance and payment of other services are very expensive. Because of that, we always ran our businesses at a loss," said Mr Daniel Chauke, one of the taxi operators in the Malamulele area.

Chauke said their vehicles would now be safe from potholes, gravel and the dust that affected their passengers.

The acting executive mayor of Vhembe District Municipality, Cllr Faith Chauke, said that the road would create opportunities for tourism, because it would link the community and the Kruger National Park. "The D4 road was therefore our first priority regarding the tarring of roads".