South Africa resuming R339 million road project two years after it was abandoned

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) will resume construction of the over 20km stretch of the R510 national road in Limpopo later this year.

Once work resumes in October, it will have been two years since the previous contractor abandoned the road that runs from the North West/Limpopo provincial border through Northam to Bierspruit.

The site was abandoned after SANRAL failed to pay the contractor for six months following changes in its internal governance structures that led to the delay in the release of funds.

Despite initially budgeting around R400 million to complete the project in 2022, the roads agency has reportedly spent over R600 million to date, and anticipates spending millions more before it is finished.

Now, the contract has been awarded to Lebaka Construction as the appointed contractor and to Mariswe (Pty) Ltd, which will serve as supervision consultant, at a total value of R339 million.

Plans are in place for the project to start in October 2026, following a two-month mobilisation period between August and the end of September, with construction expected to be completed on 30 November next year.

The mobilisation period, which SANRAL said has already started, serves as planning and additional training time to equip small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) for the project.

Madoda Mthembu, the National Roads Agency’s Provincial Head for the Limpopo Province, explained that the roadworks aim to widen the stretch of road between the two towns.

“The scope of work that will be undertaken in the construction includes the capacity improvement of the R510 national road,” said Mthembu.

“This will provide passing and climbing lanes, surfaced shoulders, a four-lane cross section towards Northam on both approaches to the town and drainage structures.”

Return to work welcomed

The Limpopo branch of the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) said that it welcomed the National Roads Agency’s resumption of the contract, calling the route between Northam and Thabazimbi “dangerous”.

According to the party, the announcement from SANRAL follows numerous complaints from the local community about reckless driving, speeding and dangerous overtaking on solid lines.

“The poor condition of the road has already caused several serious and fatal accidents, including a bus accident involving schoolchildren,” the FF Plus said.

“Since the previous contractor abandoned the site at the end of 2024, road conditions have been extremely dangerous, with large potholes, narrow lanes and no stop-and-go controls.”

It added that the installation of temporary speed bumps without adequate road shoulders further increased the risk of crashes.

The party has continuously raised its concerns through the media, radio interviews and official correspondence with SANRAL, and welcomed the awarding of the R339 million contract.

Lebaka Construction will reportedly be responsible for constructing passing and climbing lanes, tarred shoulders, a four-lane intersection in both directions entering and exiting the town of Northam, and drainage structures.

The party said it would keep a close eye on the project’s progress and ensure that irregularities and delays do not arise again.

The FF Plus added that it would be engaging directly with the provincial traffic authorities and the contractors to ensure that warning signs are erected, speed limits are enforced, and traffic-control officers are deployed on the R510.