Roads in the North West province are a lot safer after 120 000 potholes and 800 km of tarred road were repaired on the public roads network in the past six months.

Briefing provincial stakeholders on the Strategic Infrastructure Programme (SIP) 4 at the Special North West Premiers Coordinating Council (NWPCC) South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) as the implementation agency highlighted that it had thus far spend R73,1 million on routine road maintenance across the province.

SANRAL projected that it would have spent a further R71,9 million on rehabilitation of the road infrastructure by November this year. Other projects for implementation under SIP-4 include the resuscitation of rural towns of Groot Marico, Mahikeng and Taung, rollout of 289 public works projects and 30 additional roads projects.

Minister of Transport, Ben Martin as the Minister responsible for SIP-4 urged provincial government departments and municipalities to continue to engage and mobilise other stakeholders such as traditional leaders, local businesses, youth and women organisations, individuals and communities to support and participate actively in all SIP-4 projects.