NW Department of Public Works: Millions spent, but Nelson Mandela Road still sinks in the rain

Issued by Freddy Sonakile – DA Spokesperson on Public Works and Roads in the North West Provincial Legislature
12 Nov 2024 in Press Statements

Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English and Sesotho by Freddy Sonakile

The DA condemns the North West Department of Public Works for the fiasco on the newly opened Nelson Mandela Drive in Mahikeng, which flooded during the weekend rains. Opened in May 2024 after numerous delays, this road is already showing severe defects. (See photos by Thuso Monnagaratoe herehereherehereherehere and here.)

In 2022, the contract to upgrade the road was awarded to Khosivuyo Logistics CC with an initial budget of R47 million. However, despite Bigen Africa Group’s proposal to halt the construction because Kohisivuyo Logistics did not submit the essential supporting documents, the construction still carried on.

The planned completion date was September 2023, which was then extended to November 2023. But by November, the construction still had a long way to go, and the completion date was then extended to March 2024, and the budget ballooned to a whopping R79 million.

Despite the department’s assurances that the additional costs were to cover for stormwater drainage, which was not included on the initial bill of quantities, the recent flooding suggests this essential infrastructure was either poorly implemented or overlooked.

The DA will write to the new MEC, Elizabeth Mokua, to demand a full report and thorough investigation into the drainage system.

The North West Department of Public Works had an opportunity to do a state-of-the-art road and instil public confidence with this critical four-kilometre road linking Mahikeng to Botswana, but has once again failed the residents.

The DA will also request an update on the second phase of the project, which was scheduled to begin in September 2024, which includes road expansion to the Danville circle and the construction of a bridge.