/ 25 January 2011

Govt announces project to tackle potholes

The government is set to launch a R150-million project in March this year to tackle road potholes, Public Works Minister Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde said on Tuesday.

“Our roads are in an undesirable state … Most of them have potholes,” she told a media briefing at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg.

Speaking after a meeting with provincial ministers, Mahlangu-Nkabinde said best practice from around the world was examined to develop technology to ensure the repairs would last.

She said the project would create about 14 000 jobs and would start in Sandton in March.

Asked whether the R150-million budget was enough to tackle the pothole problem around the country, the minister said the project was a starting point.

“We do understand that we need a lot of money, but we are saying let’s get started … We will never get anywhere if we wait for the millions needed.”

Mahlangu-Nkabinde replaced Geoff Doidge in President Jacob Zuma’s Cabinet reshuffle last year. — Sapa