22 Feb 2023

The Ministry of Transport and Public Works has no plans to upgrade the Pilikwe-Maape and Mokobeng-Seleka roads.

Responding to a parliamentary question on Tuesday, Minister Eric Molale said the ministry would instead continue to grade and spot improvement on the roads as and when necessary using in-house resources. Mr Molale said the roads were difficult to traverse during rainy seasons due to ponding and accumulation of sand on the road. “Ponding of water on the roadway is prevalent on the Pilikwe-Maape road while accumulation of sand occurs along Mokobeng-Seleka road,” he said.

As a short term measure, he said the ministry deployed a backhoe loader and a tipper to stockpile and remove the accumulated sand along Mokobeng-Seleka road, adding work commenced on February 8 this year and planned for completion end of next month (March 31).

“As a medium term measure, my ministry will upon completion of removal of the accumulated sand on the roadway along Mokobeng-Seleka road, embark on grading of that road while resources currently which are being used to remove sand from Mokobeng-Seleka road will be mobilsed to Pilikwe-Maape road for spot improvement,” he added.

Therefore, he said grading and spot improvement of both roads was planned for first quarter of the next financial year. Member of Parliament for Sefhare/Ramokgonami, Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang had asked the minister if he was aware of the state of Pilikwe-Maape and Mokolobeng-Seleka road. Dr Gobotswang further wanted to know the ministry’s short, medium to long term plan to improve the condition of the roads given that some sections were not easy to navigate especially during the rainy season. ends