The slow pace of the Nelson Mandela Drive upgradings in Mahikeng have raised the ire of business owners and motorists because of the traffic congestion that they say is having a negative impact on their businesses.
The R47 million road development project started on 10 February 2023 and was expected to be completed by 13 September 2023 as stipulated in the contract.
However, it has been delayed and will be completed only in December.
North West Department of Public Works and Roads, Oageng Molapisi, said the project was delayed by the installation of the stormwater drain.
“There is a challenge of stormwater in this road, and I think this is the major reason because the stormwater initially was not part of the process. We have now included it, and a sub-contractor has been brought in to reinforce the main contractor who will attend to it,” Molapisi said.
A contractor on site Robsin Nxola of the Khosi Vuyo Logistics CC said they needed a postponement because the installation of the stormwater drain was not included in the first plan.
North West acting Premier, Nono Maloyi has threatened to terminate the contract should Khosi Vuyo Logistics CC fail to complete the project of the road which leads to the port of entry between South Africa and its neighboring country of Botswana.
A hawker Mitchell Selebatso, selling fish next to the road said the project was crippling her business while a motorist Tshenolo Phiri complained that the traffic jams were making him late for work.
