×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

Mbalula opens new Polokwane ring road as he takes a dig at Malema

The new Polokwane N1 ring
The new Polokwane N1 ring
Image: Twitter

Transport minister Fikile Mbalula took a swipe at EFF leader Julius Malema while addressing residents during the handover of the Polokwane N1 ring road near Seshego in Limpopo on Thursday morning.

“Tell Julius Malema that the road near Seshego is complete and EFF will not protest,” he said.

Mbalula said he had received a text message from the EFF leader on Wednesday night telling him that he was going to hand over an incomplete road.

“Tell Malema that I'm done with this road,” he said.

Mbalula heaped praises on the SA National Road Agency (Sanral) team for sterling work.

The N1 ring road around Polokwane will serve as a bypass to ease congestion in the city by taking traffic around it. The original contract for the project was awarded to Basil Read in August 2015,  however the project came to a halt in June 2018 after Basil Read went into business-rescue.

In September last year, a new company, Edwin Construction, was appointed to complete the contract.

Edwin Construction was tasked with the completion of the new road, widening and strengthening of the old carriageway and the completion of the new intersections at the R37 (Lydenburg) and P977 (Silikon) road crossings.

Capricorn district mayor John Mpe said the complete road infrastructure will be a major boost for traffic flow given that the province hosts two of the biggest churches in the SADC region.

Sanral board chairperson Themba Mhambi said the handover of the road is the result of the support it got from the department of transport.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.