PHALABORWA – Fed-up Lulekani residents took to the streets in the early hours of Monday, October 12, demanding urgent action on the long-awaited rehabilitation of the deteriorating D4424 Nghungunyani Road, with no confirmed construction start date provided by officials.

The peaceful shutdown, which began at around 04:00, was led by Otto Moseamedi, coordinator, and Zamani Ndlovu, convenor of the Lulekani Interim Task Team, a community-based structure addressing service delivery concerns.

Residents say they are tired of promises

Under the banner “Enough is enough”, residents said they were tired of repeated assurances while the road, which connects Lulekani to the R71, remained in poor condition.

Moseamedi said the protest was not intended to disrupt learners or essential workers, but to compel authorities to account for the delays and provide clear answers.

Promised dates come and go

The community’s frustration follows months of postponed commitments. During the provincial government’s service delivery week in Phalaborwa in July, Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure MEC Tonny Ernest Rachoene reportedly promised that the road would be completed within a month. Ba-Phalaborwa Mayor Merriam Malatji later indicated that the project would start on October 1, but construction had yet to begin.

In a statement, the municipality described the road as flood-damaged during the January floods. However, reports indicate that the road had been deteriorating for years.

Mayor meets officials, then residents

Following the shutdown, Malatji met with RAL management, engineers, councillors and representatives from Palabora Mining Company (PMC) and Foskor before engaging with residents at Lulekani Community Hall.

The mayor said geotechnical investigations, land surveying and field studies had been completed, while technical teams were finalising the data and reports required for the project.

Local labour and liaison posts

The municipality also announced that processes to establish a project steering committee, appoint a community liaison officer (CLO) and recruit local labour would begin.

A steering committee meeting was scheduled for Thursday, October 15, to enable the community to start submitting CVs for CLO positions.

Community leader says protest worked

If we had not staged the shutdown, officials would not have addressed our concerns.

“We had received no updates from our councillors regarding the road, which left us with no choice but to take action to get the authorities’ attention. The protest has resulted in some progress,” said Moseamedi.

He also welcomed the community’s turnout, saying residents had demonstrated that they were angry and tired of waiting.

The Herald will continue to follow up on the matter.