Lekwa Local Municipality had an engagement session with the National Department of Transport and its agency, the South African National Road Agency Limited (SANRAL), as well as the Provincial Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport.
The session was for the municipality to get a brief on the transferred Nelson Mandela Drive and related streets to SANRAL as published in the Government Gazette and the emergency rehabilitation of the internal streets as well as further transferring of other strategic streets that previously were provincial roads.
The meeting, which was chaired by Executive Mayor, Cllr. Delani Thabethe was attended by the Speaker of Council, Cllr Oliver Phiri, Whip of Council, Cllr. Dumisani Msibi, MPAC Chairperson, Cllr. Sithi Silosini, MMCs Sipho Majozi, Phindile Mahlaba, Thabo Sebiloane as well as PR Councillor Mancane Mthimkhulu and senior management.
After the meeting, the delegation undertook a project site visit to inspect the progress made on the rehabilitation of internal streets.
Council Speaker Cllr. Oliver Phiri said, the municipality was very happy with the support it is receiving from the government departments and agency as they strive to turn around the municipal road network.
“As the Council, we took a decision to transfer some of the roads to SANRAL not only because they previously belonged to the provincial government but because they link different provinces and are used largely by heavy vehicles carrying goods that directly impact the national economy meant that national government needs to get in to support us in maintaining these streets,” said Council Speaker.
He said as the municipality they are happy with the progress and pace at which SANRAL is moving in making those streets drivable with less convenience to road users.