The spokesperson for the provincial Department of Police, Roads and Transport (DPRT), Hillary Mophethe, explains that the bridge and road will be closed from Monday, 16 January until Tuesday, 17 January. 

“Motorists are advised to use alternative roads to travel in and out of Koffiefontein during the said period. The maintenance work on the bridge and road will enhance the safety of motorists,” she concludes.

ALSO READ: Operation Vala Zonke on track in the Free State

Meanwhile, the ongoing national Vala Zonke campaign has seen 40 149 potholes repaired in the province by the beginning of November 2022. 

Mophethe previously said that from the day of the launch of the programme in August 2022, a total of 14 052 square meters has been completed.  

“The department is committed to repairing two million potholes by the end of March 2023,” she explained. As far as the issue of the deadline they have set is concerned, Mophethe said despite the financial challenges the department faces, the work to close the two million potholes, will continue for the committed period.

At the very beginning of operation Vala Zonke, the provincial premier, Sisi Ntombela, said she is confident that the province will be pothole-free within the next six months [from the commencement of the programme]. 

When the operation launched, Ntombela was with the provincial MEC for Police, Roads and Transport, William Bulwane, who, together with their respective teams, were repairing potholes on the R501 road between Viljoenskoon and Potchefstroom, as well as on the R59 road between Sasolburg and Vanderbjilpark.

Ntombela said that an app had been created by the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral), whereby people will be able to upload pictures of potholes in order for an alert to be captured and logged onto the system so that it can be repaired.

OFM News