Commuters from Vuwani and Malamulele who make use of the D4 Road, which connects Malamulele to the Elim area, are calling on the Roads Agency Limpopo, an entity under the Limpopo Department of Public Works, Roads, and Infrastructure, to speed up the rehabilitation process of this road as the condition, as it is, poses challenges for motorists who have to use it.

The contractor, Puttie Trading Enterprise, started with construction on the road in January this year. The R20-million project is expected to be completed by 30 November 2023, but the residents from the area are getting worried as they claim that very little progress has been made so far.

“There is very little progress seen at the moment,” said Mr Samson Muavha, PR councillor for the EFF in that area. “I am not sure the work will be completed within the stipulated time frame. Under normal conditions, driving from Vuwani to Elim takes about 30 minutes, but as it is with the ongoing road construction, this short journey takes up to an hour. This is really affecting those who run businesses from either Elim or Vuwani,” Muavha said.

Mr Abie Khosa, a member of the Elim Taxi Association, agreed that progress seems to be much too slow for something that is supposed to be completed within little more than a month. “The hazardous potholes are imposing significant financial burdens on us as we are compelled to frequently replace tyres, shocks, ball joints, and other parts. The majority of accidents on this road are attributed to these potholes,” he said.

During the visit of the MEC for the department, Nkakareng Rakgoale, to this stretch of road on Monday, 11 September to monitor the progress on the project, she said she was satisfied with the progress. Rakgoale was joined by Collins Chabane Municipal Mayor Shadrack Maluleke, and councillors from the Makhado and Vhembe District municipalities. “The department is continuing with its effort to make the province’s roads drivable,” said Rakgoale.

The MEC also visited the stretch of road from Elim to the N1 Road, where Machabatau Construction had recently established a site while they are busy creating a bypass before they start rehabilitating that road. Work on this project started in July and is expected to be completed by December this year.