The call and a number of engagements that started early in 2022 by the Lekwa Local Municipality Executive Mayor Cllr. Delani Thabethe with SANRAL, National Department of Transport, Premiers Office in Mpumalanga, Department of Public Works and Gert Sibande District Municipality has finally produced some positive results, as the South African National Road Limited (SANRAL) has taken over the Nelson Mandela Drive.
The official takeover and inclusion of this section of the road into R23 National Road was officially declared by the Minister of transport, Ms Sindisiwe Chikunga, in the Government Gazette No. 49656.
Welcoming the declaration, Executive Mayor said this is a result of extensive engagements with both National and Provincial Governments that maintenance of the roads connecting provinces should be the responsibility of SANRAL as roads feeds directly to national economy through goods that being transported using these roads.
“SANRAL has now officially taken over the maintenance of this road and has already started to patch potholes on this very important road as we move towards the busy December holidays,” he stated.
The Minister Chikunga said in the Gazette: “I declare the section of the road commencing from the intersection known as Dr Nelson Mandela Road and Leask Street at the time of declaration, from there continuing in a general north westerly direction long the street known as Dr Nelson Mandela Road and Handel Street at the time of declaration, and therefrom continuing in the general northern direction along the street known as Walter Sisulu Drive at time of declaration up to the junction with National Road R23 Section 2, also known as the intersection between the streets known as Walter Sisulu Drive and Krogh Street at the time of declaration, in Standerton as a National Road.”
An excited Executive Mayor added that engagements between the municipality and the National Department of Transport to see SANRAL also taking over other critical roads from the municipality that include among others the R50 (Next to Early bird), Beyers Naude and other streets that previously belonged to National and Provincial Governments.
“This will enable us to direct our limited financial resources to the internal streets in town and all our residential areas,” he concluded.
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