The Democratic Alliance has called on the Premier of Limpopo, Mr Cassel Mathale, to save the sinking Road Agency Limpopo (RAL), following its alleged shortfall of R53 million.

The DA member of the Limpopo Legislature, Mr Jacques Smalle, said this week that the premier had to intervene before things became worse. Smalle added that the problems unfolding at RAL threaten the entire province’s capacity to maintain and build better roads. “This is further compounded by the province’s deteriorating road network, due to inadequate funding and the rising costs of construction and maintenance,” he said.

According to Smalle, the MEC for Roads and Transport, Ms Pinky Kekana, seems to be an integral part of the problem rather than the solution at RAL. “The DA therefore calls on Mr Cassel Mathale to intervene in the matter urgently, including the possibility of moving it from the auspices of the Department of Roads and Transport to the Provincial Treasury or the Department of Pub-lic Works,” he said.

The problems currently facing RAL include the shortfall on its budget. RAL’s income was only R798 million, whereas their total commitments amounted to R851,8 million. “This means that some of its 2007/8 projects, amounting to R54,7 million, and 2008/9 projects worth R635,9 million as well as road signs worth R1,5 million will have to be abandoned. As a result of this, no new road construction will be done in this financial year,” said Smalle, adding that seven RAL board members recently tendered their resignations, leaving the board with only one member.

“Kekana has taken over the functions of RAL, with the possible contravention of the Northern Province Roads Agency Proprietary Limited and the Provincial Roads Act, which clearly stipulates that the preventative maintenance of roads system falls under the RAL. This is likely to be exacerbated by the shortage of engineers in the Department of Roads and Transport,” he said.

Kekana recently stopped all the tenders for the construction of the roads in the prov-ince.

Limpopo government spokesperson Mr Mohale Nchabeleng reacted and said that MEC Kekana was handling the matter and there was no need for intervention as there was no crisis. “We are confident that the MEC is on the right track in carrying out her constitutional mandate and responsibility,” he said.

Meanwhile, motorists who use the Thohoyandou to Louis Trichardt road are still complaining about the Lutanyanda bridge which the Department of Roads and Transport is taking a long time to fix. The motorists now have to travel an extra 25 km along a detour that passes through the Levubu farms. It is still not known if the department will be able to fix the damaged bridge this financial year.