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The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to the Roads Agency Limpopo (RAL) to urgently address the terrible state of the R530 road from Mica to the Oaks.

Besides residents and workers of the surrounding areas using the road for their daily commute, it is also used by farmers transporting produce and large trucks moving goods to and from the mines.

The road has been poorly maintained and is riddled with large potholes that have the potential to cause accidents. The failure to fix it presents a serious safety risk to motorists who use it. Many cars have already been badly damaged. .

RAL has previously intervened and repaired the road, but residents pointed out  that inconsistent maintenance of the road and damage caused by large mining vehicles in the area are the main cause that the road is in a constantly bad state.

In 2019, there were already claims worth over R118 million against the Limpopo Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure as well as its entity, the RAL. These were largely for damage caused by potholes and for claims against the department's register.

The failure to maintain the road is unacceptable because it is key to encouraging economic activity and the accessibility of services in the area. It should be a catalyst for job creation and driving local economic development – particularly for the historically disadvantaged members of our society.

RAL was partly established for the purpose of driving the province's economic development, but has failed to consistently provide services to the people of Limpopo. RAL must engage with the mines in the area that use the road and find a solution on ways to cooperate with each other in maintaining that road to the benefit of residents and the area’s economic activities.

The DA cares about the safety of road users and is committed to ensuring the provision of a safe, quality provincial road infrastructure network to the people of Limpopo.

Issued by Risham Maharaj MPL - DA Limpopo Spokesperson for Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure