Questions asked about materials used for fixing AFB road

Date: 14 March 2024 By: Andries van Zyl

The Roads Agency Limpopo (RAL) has confirmed that construction work on the first part of the D723 road between the N1 and AFB Makhado will be completed this month. This was in response to questions asked about the scope of the work to be done on the road, as well as rumours that the project had to be halted because of irregularities reggarding the acquisition of base materials needed for the contract.

A couple of weeks ago, motorists were suddenly relegated to a dirt road when the first few kilometres of the main road from the N1 were ripped up. This was done in accordance with RAL project number T1151/2021 for the “preventative maintenance of road D723 from the N1 to the Air Force Base”. The appointed contractor is Gerson Matamela.

The D723 is essentially the lifeline to AFB Makhado but had, over the years, deteriorated into a death trap because of potholes and poor surface quality. News that the road was to be repaired was therefore welcomed by all.

According to RAL, the project commenced on 7 September 2023. As for the scope of the work to be done, this includes recycling the existing base and converting it to sub-base, adding a new base layer, and surfacing with asphalt. However, RAL stated that the current phase is only covering the first four kilometres of the road and is to be completed this month. “The road will be implemented in phases due to budget constraints,” said RAL.

The project value is R19,999,000, and at the time of their response last week, the current project phase was 95% completed. At one stage, however, the project did appear to have been halted, and rumours were rife that this had something to do with the local supplier of base materials not having the necessary permits to mine the material on an adjacent farm.

RAL was asked if these rumours were true, to which they responded with a “no”. Furthermore, the newspaper wanted to know if the RAL tender documents for the project specified that materials be imported from a commercial source, with a commercial source meaning a supplier conforming to all the regulatory requirements, including the necessary mining permits, to supply materials to contractors and projects. “Yes, it specified that the source must be commercial,” said RAL.

Also regarding the above, when the newspaper wanted to know if RAL had verified whether the materials specified in the contract's bill of quantities had indeed been obtained from a commercial source, RAL was a bit evasive. “The issue of material reached the attention of RAL and is receiving attention through the processes of the organisation,” they responded.

But the newspaper needed clarity on what these processes entail. To this, Mr Danny Legodi (the new head of communications at RAL) responded personally, stating: “I recommend that we provide you with the answer to the questions as soon as the process of gathering the relevant information and the confirmation of a formal report is done. At the moment, it is important to allow this process to take place and provide you with authentic information.”

In the meantime, the project concerning the first four kilometres of the road appears to be nearing completion quickly. Frequent users of the road reported on Monday that the road has been resurfaced, with contractors busy painting the necessary traffic lines.  Exactly when the next phase of the project will commence, remains uncertain.

Viewed: 2009

Andries van Zyl

Andries joined the Zoutpansberger and Limpopo Mirror in April 1993 as a darkroom assistant. Within a couple of months he moved over to the production side of the newspaper and eventually doubled as a reporter. In 1995 he left the newspaper group and travelled overseas for a couple of months. In 1996, Andries rejoined the Zoutpansberger as a reporter. In August 2002, he was appointed as News Editor of the Zoutpansberger, a position he holds until today.

More photos...