20 Apr 2026

The contract for reseal of Damuchujenaa and Mmadinare access including surfacing of 40km Mmadinare-Robelela Road project was awarded to Ocean Cables (Pty) Ltd at the amount of P95 356 092.50. This was revealed by Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Mr Noah Salakae when responding to a question in Parliament on Wednesday. 

Minister Salakae said the to date, P27 644 811.93 representing about 29 per cent of the total project budget had been expended. The minister told Parliament that the project commenced on February 12, 2024 and was due for completion on February 11, 2026 and the overall project progress had reached 51 per cent of its 100 per cent target. 

He noted that the Serule-Selebi Phikwe road marking (16km) was finished and the Mmadinare access road (13.6km out of 14km) was 97 per cent complete, the Mmadinare-Robelela Road (40km) had only seen minimal earthworks (1.2km base and 2.5km subgrade) and the resealing of the Damuchujenaa access road (6.5km) was yet to begin. 

“The project experienced delays primarily due to the contractor’s performance and rainfall, which affected consistent progress on site. 

A variation in the scope of works specifically change of the base layer material from crushed stone to G5 resulted in the contractor submitting a claim for an Extension of Time (EOT) and this claim is currently under review in accordance with the relevant provisions of the contract,” he said. 

Mr Salakae said in an effort to compel the contractor to improve performance, the ministry issued Notices to Correct in October 2025 and January 2026. 

“In addition, a notice was issued to charge the contractor delay damages for the delays incurred,” he added. He also said in response to the Notices to Correct, the contractor undertook such remedial actions as provision of bulk fuel storage facilities and the mobilisation of key personnel to site in October 2025. Further to that, he said, in January 2026, the contractor mobilised additional resources to the site and the required EOT was likely to push project completion to August 2026. “Despite these interventions, progress, particularly on the Mmadinare- Robelela section remains slow and the ministry will continue to monitor progress with a view to coming up with a workable solution,” the minister said. Mr Salakae said rainfall delay claim had not been submitted but on site the contractor had to rework some section. He said due to the omission of cement stabilisation in the Bill Of Quantities (BOQ), the road base material was being changed from crushed stone to G5 to avoid stabilisation requirements, a variation expected to extend the contract completion date to August 2026.

 Member of Parliament for Selebi Phikwe West, Mr Reuben Kaizer, had asked the minister to appraise Parliament on the status of the construction and upgrading of the Mmadinare-Robelela Road.

 He also asked the minister to state the total budget allocated to the project and how much had been expended so far and whether the project had experienced any delays and the causes. He also wanted to know the measures the ministry had put in place to ensure timely completion of the project. ENDS