Durban - Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula will launch the Operation Valazonke pothole repair project with provincial MECs on Monday.
A statement on Sunday said the minister will roll out the labour-intensive programme to address potholes on the country’s roads. The main launch will take place in Sedibeng, Gauteng.
“The roll out of this programme will be the implementation of an integrated, rigorous and comprehensive plan that will drive interventions to ensure that the department improves the overall condition index of roads,” said the department.
The statement said the Department of Transport is supporting district municipalities with “Road Infrastructure Planning” through the Rural Road Asset Management Systems Grant.
“The national Department of Transport has been hard at work intensifying interventions aimed at addressing challenges relating to road infrastructure with a comprehensive plan to address potholes across all spheres of government, with the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) leading the labour-intensive national project,” it said.
The department said during the Road Construction and Maintenance Indaba in May, provincial authorities had outlined the magnitude of the pothole problem in their areas of responsibility; the existing strategies they are using to fix them; and the turnaround time to fix potholes.
In KZN, MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Neliswa Nkonyeni, will launch the programme at Dabedabe Park in Vryheid under the Abaqulusi Local Municipality.
The KZN Department of Transport said the pothole repair project will bring about improved infrastructure and safer roads.
“As Sanral remains the custodian of the national road network they will lead the implementation of Operation Valazonke, working alongside provinces and local municipalities,” it said.
The department said the national programme will complement the provincial programme named Operation Vala’mapothole that was launched by MEC Nkonyeni earlier this year.
The department added that Nkonyeni is also expected to launch the Vukayibambe Routine Road Maintenance project in the District of Zululand.
“This programme is aimed at training and skilling young people in doing minor repairs and road maintenance; this includes pothole patching, road marking, grass cutting and other related activities,” said the department.
