TZANEEN – Mayor Gerson Molapisane has announced that the Greater Tzaneen Municipality (GTM) has launched an intensive road repair programme following the recent floods and heavy rainfall that affected large parts of the municipality.

“Residents will notice an increased presence of our teams in orange overalls working across towns and villages as we accelerate our response to road damage,” said Molapisane. “Our teams are working around the clock to repair potholes, rehabilitate damaged streets, and ensure that critical roads remain accessible.’

Pothole repairs have already commenced in several key areas, he said, including Tzaneen, Nkowankowa, and Lenyenye, while grading of gravel roads in rural villages has also begun.

In the coming weeks, re-gravelling plants will be rolled out across all municipal clusters to carry out extensive road repairs, focusing on areas where gravel roads have been badly eroded. He said the municipality has identified roads that provide access to schools, businesses, places of worship, and government services as critical.

In addition to emergency repairs, the GTM is preparing for a longer-term rehabilitation programme.

Within the next two months, contractors will be brought in to rehabilitate several streets in Tzaneen, Lenyenye, Nkowankowa, and Haenertsburg.

This work forms part of a broader infrastructure recovery and improvement plan, which aims not only to repair flood damage but also to improve the overall condition and resilience of the municipality’s roads.

Molapisane emphasised the importance of community support during this process. “We call on all residents to support and warmly welcome our road maintenance teams as they carry out this important work,” he said.

“Their work is critical to restoring safe and reliable roads for all members of our communities, and cooperation from residents will help ensure that these projects are completed efficiently and effectively.”

Residents are encouraged to stay informed about ongoing roadworks and to exercise caution when travelling on roads under repair.

The Herald has requested a schedule of the repair programme from the GTM. At the time of print on Tuesday, the repair programme was not received.