Road repairs expected to propel Driefontein’s economy

Refurbishment efforts unfolding on the 18-kilometer Mlotshwa Road in Driefontein, Mpumalanga 

In a bid to enhance safety and bolster economic activity, Kangra and the Mkhondo Local Municipality in Mpumalanga launched a R2.9 million Road Restoration Project. Travelers can anticipate a smoother journey along the Mlotshwa Road connecting Driefontein to the N2 Road once the project is completed. The project is aimed at re-sealing the surface and fixing potholes on the 18-kilometre route. It forms part of Kangra’s Social and Labour Plan (SLP) and it is line with the municipality’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP). 

“The road is used by community members, employees, learners, visitors, and business people, whose safety is important to us,” says Kangra’s stakeholder relations manager Mpfuneni Mulaudzi. “The decision to fix the road was influenced by feedback from the community during the SLP drafting process.” In addition, he says, the initiative will help to sustain six existing permanent jobs, while creating a further 10 employment opportunities for people from the local community.

Mkhondo Municipality’s Local Economic Development Manager, Howard Vilakazi, emphasises the importance of good road networks to support economic growth. “Roads are essential to any developmental strategy because they connect farmers to markets, employees to jobs, students to schools, and the ill to hospitals,” says Vilakazi. Dominant industries under Mkhondo’s jurisdiction include coal, timber, and agriculture, with leisurely attractions like golf, horse riding, fishing and historical sites that appeal to tourists. “The provision of improved roads will open the area to external competition which would reduce prices for businesses and consumers. It will also increase the attractiveness of the area to new businesses which could lead to increased employment opportunities,” concludes Vilakazi.