20 Aug 2026

Significant progress has been made in the output and performance-based road contract in the district despite ongoing financial challenges.

Speaking during the opening of a full council session of the Good Hope District Council on Tuesday, the council chairperson, Mr Gofaone Nkwane said the design phase of the 250-kilometre Mmathethe-Metlobo-Bray-Werda Road was complete, though the project, which was to be carried out through the Development Manager Model, had been suspended due to a lack of funds.

He further mentioned that ongoing financial constraints had also halted the construction of the Mabule-Sekhutlane Road, which was awarded to Van and Truck Hire Pty Ltd.

Mr Nkwane stated that procurement of the asphalt overlay and shoulder reconstruction of the Ramatlabama-Mmathethe Road, which was approved under the Road Fund Levy, had also been halted due to lack of funds. Despite this, he said, the project has been submitted for funding consideration in the 2026/2027 financial year.

He added that the dry grading of roads in the district had also been affected by funding limitations and machinery shortages. 

He explained that the deployment of graders for Foot and Mouth Disease control has reduced availability for road works, adding that ongoing machinery breakdowns and slow repair due to insufficient funds were also a factor contributing to the situation.

However, the chairman revealed that other projects like the 174.4 km Rakhuna Junction-Mabule Main Road and Goodhope-Kgoro-Gathwane Road, awarded to SteelBase Pty Ltd, was now at 99.49 per cent complete.

Mr Nkwane stated that the design review and construction of the Goodhope-Kgoro-Gathwane Road and associated access roads have been completed and were now open to traffic, adding that routine maintenance and network performance activities were ongoing on the roads until October 2026.

Mr Nkwane reported that the construction of the Goodhope-Gamajaalela Road and the Malokaganyane-Sheepfarm Roads were complete, while the Rakhuna-Ngwatsau Road was nearly complete.

He noted that progress on the 52-kilometre Borobadilepe-Hebron-Mokatako Road was at 41 per cent, compared to the planned 53 per cent. ENDS