Road resurfacing project stays within budget, Hammanskraal requiring deeper repairs

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17-09-2025
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Pretoria Rekord
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Tshwane’s R73-million road project has resurfaced most of the 34.5km targeted, but Hammanskraal residents are still waiting as deeper repairs delay completion.

The Tshwane metro’s much-anticipated R73-million road resurfacing project in Hammanskraal, Soshanguve, Mabopane, and Ga-Rankuwa is largely complete, but parts of Hammanskraal remain outstanding, after unforeseen repair needs forced delays.

The project, which began on May 12 and was scheduled for completion by June 25, targeted 34.5km of roads across the northern regions.

It was rolled out to improve driving conditions and safety, with Soshanguve receiving the largest allocation of R29.7-million, followed by Hammanskraal at R26.9-million, Mabopane at R13.4-million, and Ga-Rankuwa at R3.6-million.

Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo confirmed that while the majority of work has been completed as, “Not all planned work in Hammanskraal was completed, as some of the roads required deeper repairs into the pavement layers than initially planned.”

The resurfacing backlog has particularly affected wards 13 and 73, where work could not begin due to the additional structural repairs required.

The metro has not yet given a revised completion date for these roads.

Residents in Hammanskraal and Soshanguve have complained that only select roads were resurfaced, with many communities still struggling with potholes.

However, Mashigo explained that the metro followed a structured approach in deciding which roads to prioritise.

“The decision to repair specific roads in Soshanguve and Hammanskraal was guided by a combination of technical assessments, community complaints, and strategic service delivery priorities.

“Condition assessments revealed severe deterioration in some sections, posing safety risks to motorists and pedestrians. Roads with the highest levels of damage, traffic volumes, and service delivery impact were therefore prioritised,” he said.

The municipality has long been criticised for poor-quality road repairs that fail within months.

“It’s long-awaited, but we need it to cover all our areas, not just some.

“We duck potholes each day, and we hope that the project will benefit all residents of Soshanguve, not just certain places,” said Kaizer Mahlobo of Block X, Soshanguve.

For some residents, the visible progress has been welcomed, especially in Mabopane and Ga-Rankuwa, where entire stretches of road have been resurfaced.

Other residents, like Mahlobo in Soshanguve, and some residents of Hammanskraal, are still waiting for work to start, frustration lingers.

“They promised us safer roads, but we are still dodging potholes daily. We appreciate the work done so far, but all areas must benefit equally,” said Mahlobo.

Mashigo said strict measures were in place this time to prevent repeat failures.

“Quality control and supervision were handled by a designated Project Manager and Engineering Consultants from the metro to ensure adherence to industry standards throughout the project.

“This was done to guarantee quality and ensure the longevity of the rehabilitated surfaces,” he said.

Despite the delays in Hammanskraal, the metro confirmed that the project has stayed within its budget.

“The work done was within the allocated budget,” Mashigo stated, dismissing fears of cost overruns.

He emphasised the project’s job creation component.

“Approximately 150 local labourers participated in this project,” said Mashigo, adding that subcontractors were also appointed.

While the project was welcomed, Mashigo reminded residents that the work was limited in scope.

“The work done was limited to road resurfacing, and other infrastructure assets will be attended to as and when the budget becomes available,” he said.

This means drainage, signage, and streetlighting upgrades will have to wait for future phases.

The metro has drawn lessons from the project, particularly regarding preventative measures against pothole formation.

“The uncontrolled water that is supposed to go through the stormwater drainage system is one of the factors that usually leads to the formation.

“The stormwater system will be inspected every month and after every major storm event to ensure that they are working in their intended fashion and free of debris and soil deposits, and then cleaned or repaired as necessary,” Mashigo said.

He added that future road infrastructure programmes will focus more heavily on rehabilitation and preventative maintenance.

MMC for Roads and Transport Tlangi Mogale previously highlighted that the metro’s asphalt plant was only producing 70 tons per day, a figure she admitted was inadequate to address pothole backlogs across the capital.

Mashigo has now clarified that the plant is capable of producing far more.

“The asphalt plant has the capacity to produce 300 tons per day. The 70 tons per day referred to is the average tonnage collected per day by the maintenance teams at [this] stage,” he said.

Hammanskraal’s unfinished roads remain the main blemish on a project that otherwise delivered on its budget and local employment promises.

The metro, however, insists the bulk of the 34.5km has been resurfaced, and that the lessons learned will shape more sustainable roadwork programmes in other parts of Tshwane.