The Northern Cape Department of Roads and Public Works is deploying engineers to assess roads in the Hantam and Karoo Hoogland areas that were damaged due to severe weather conditions.
THE NORTHERN Cape Department of Roads and Public Works is deploying engineers to assess roads in the Hantam and Karoo Hoogland areas that were damaged due to severe weather conditions.
A spokesperson for the Department of Roads and Public Works, Zandisile Luphahla, said the Northern Cape was responsible for maintaining an extensive network of 29,000 kilometres of gravel roads.
“The district’s unique challenges have been exacerbated by climate change, particularly in the Hantam and Karoo Hoogland areas, which share a border with the Western Cape. The area has been severely impacted by weather conditions, including constant rainfall, leading to significant damage to our gravel roads,” said Luphahla.
He added that the department had deployed engineers to assess the extent of the damage and plan necessary repairs.
“However, the continuous flooding has put a strain on the department’s budget, as the frequent maintenance required has become increasingly costly.
“Despite these challenges, the department remains committed to involving road users in the planning process, particularly concerning the blading and maintenance of roads. Both the department and road users have agreed to maintain open lines of communication to address road maintenance issues effectively,” Luphahla stated.
