R200 million to fix potholes in one province in South Africa

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09-03-2026
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The province will start by addressing its 3.12 million square metre backlog to restore safety and mobility.

During his State of the Province Address (Sopa), the KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Thamsanqa Ntuli, announced the R216 million intensified road maintenance drive.

“This effort is to reduce the impact of potholes on vehicles, leading to punctures and wheel damage, traffic congestion and delays,” he announced.

“This would assist in reducing the risk of accidents, including fatalities, improve mobility, and economic activity in the province.”

The province’s broader infrastructure-led growth strategy includes R4.1 billion set aside for public sector-led infrastructure investment programmes.

Additional projects led by the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) total more than R3.6 billion in spending towards small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs), creating 6,842 jobs in the process.

The Premier explained that addressing bulk service supply constraints is also crucial in unlocking several delayed projects.

Ntuli added that the province is working to resolve bottlenecks in statutory approvals, including compliance with the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act, water use licences, and funding processes.

This is being done to ensure the acceleration of infrastructure rollout in the province, in hopes of providing certainty to investors.

The province will issue clearer directives to both local municipalities and the private sector to incentivise local infrastructure investment.

This includes informing them of potential rate rebates, as well as discount holidays during investment periods.

Broader infrastructure projects worth billions are being completed in key sectors across KwaZulu-Natal, including in agriculture, manufacturing, mining and infrastructure development.

Ntuli added that the construction and infrastructure sector is central to inclusive growth, with capital projects creating approximately 5,000 jobs.

The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) also created 128,906 work opportunities.

Improving broader provincial infrastructure

The Premier highlighted road infrastructure as the central pillar of KwaZulu-Natal’s connectivity strategy.

The province recorded progress along its major corridors, which include the P304 from KwaMiya to the Drakensberg and the P31 between Marburg and Port Shepstone.

Work on the P304 is 25% complete, with a R177.8 million spend, while the P31 is 13% complete at R775 million.

Important tourism avenues, such as the P372 Heritage Tourism Roads project, are advancing, while there is progress on the P7-4 between Bulwer and Underberg and the P230 Umlalazi Drift Rehabilitation project.

In the north of the province, the P47/3 Melmoth and P90 in Nkandla projects are aimed at improving accessibility in historically underserved areas.

Routine maintenance under the Vukayibambe programme has created 3,120 jobs, while Bailey bridge construction in several districts has improved rural mobility.

According to Ntuli, the Provincial Road Maintenance Grant has also allocated R269 million, R969 million and R1 billion over the medium-term framework to sustain road upkeep across KwaZulu-Natal.

Beyond road infrastructure projects, the province is undertaking several other infrastructure upgrades.

The Mahlabathini Primary School in Zululand District is undergoing a R78 million upgrade, while the Cwaka Clinic in uMzinyathi is being developed for R87 million.

The Mosvold Hospital in uMkhanyakude is receiving a massive R200 million expansion.

Upgrades costing R63 million are also underway at Ngwelezane Hospital in King Cetshwayo District.

So are governance and economic infrastructure projects at the new Nongoma RTI offices, valued at R98 million, and the Paulpietersburg Agricultural Offices, valued at R42 million.

The premier said that roads and other infrastructure upgrades are expected to generate more than 1,000 jobs during their implementation.