By REGINALD KANYANE
21 February 2025- The North West MEC for Public Works and Roads, Elizabeth Mokua has urged all motorists and pedestrians to be cautious and vigilant during prevailing rainy weather conditions. Mokua said the South African Weather Services (SAWS) has issued a warning on persistent and extreme heavy rainfall that will hit parts of the country, causing roads to be wet and slippery and ultimately causing damage to some of the road infrastructure.
“The North West province is amongst the provinces that have been experiencing heavy on and off showers which have greatly affected provincial road infrastructure.
“The department has noted some of these damages that have impacted on daily commuting, especially of learners as some schools have had to close due to non trafficable roads,” she said.
According to Mokua, the department has rolled out a number of road projects across the province in an effort to improve on the already existing road infrastructure, however due to current weather conditions, work on site had to stop. She further said they are aware of the severe damage and negative impact that this rainfall has had on the roads.
“We have been working on patching potholes, resealing and re-graveling some roads, but due to the rainfall we have to pause until the weather permits for work to continue. We appeal to road users to bear with the department as plans are underway to attend to the damages and ensure that roads are safe and trafficable.
“The departmental roads infrastructure team, despite the rainy weather, is continuously assessing the damages on the roads and will definitely ensure that these are attended to immediately when the weather permits,” said Mokua.
She added that, where possible, they will assist with diverting flow of water in some areas. Mokua said they want to assure road users that the province will become a construction site as they gear themselves up to restoring order and functionality on the roads once the rain stops.
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