LIMPOPO SECRETS: Thabiso Sekhula calls on President Ramaphosa to come back to Limpopo to get the contractors off their backsides so they can complete construction of the D11 to Polokwane
In 2021, there was a boom of development and construction in the local villages of Mopani.
One particular shining star was the D11 road between Polokwane and Mamaila village in Sekgosese.
It was such a shining example of good work that President Cyril Ramaphosa came to give a media briefing about it. In the weeks before his visit, construction was at an all-time level of greatness. About 32 km of road was prepped and tarred within a few months.
Then the president came with a media crew, congratulated the company which was building the first-ever road to connect these villages to Polokwane, cutting an hour of terrible pothole driving and replacing it with hope of a booming business district.
But like a clueless baby playing peek-a-boo, when we opened our eyes in the days following the president’s visit, there was less and less of the construction company to see. And now, three months later, there are just heaps of concrete and abandoned sites all along the road.
Let me tell you how much of a game changer this road would be.
This road was going to be so amazing for these villages that two malls are being built, one set to open this year and another on the books for the next few years. It would redirect traffic from the major towns which are 80 km away and more by creating another business hub closer for the people in the villages.
It was going to be so amazing that land along the would-be road was sold to people who were going to build businesses which would thrive all along the road, creating jobs for the people who live in the villages.
It was such a marvel that the villages were going to get their first-ever park dedicated to the communities here, built by the locals who were motivated to match the incredible construction.
So majestic that the price of land along the road went up, and on everyone’s properties – for a while.
But after the president made his inspection, calling the construction a success, the construction company dumped operations and left without paying the local workers or collecting the materials which are slowly deteriorating in the elements.
So Mr President, we know between the stolen game dollars and the re-elections, you’ve got a lot going on, but maybe another game of peek-a-boo this side could help the construction along.
Maybe another media appearance could help complete what was going to be an epic road of hope for these communities which desperately need it.
