When the sun is out, the KaBokweni Road between Nkohlakalo and Khumbula is a patchwork of sand-filled craters.

When the Nsikazi rains pour, one of the region’s busiest routes becomes a trap for daily commuters to gamble with their vehicles.

It has sparked urgent questions about the quality of road maintenance by the Mpumalanga Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport (DPWRT), and when will a permanent solution finally be implemented.

Jack Sibiya, a commuter who navigates the stretch daily, said it is frustrating using the road because it slows traffic down and it is unbearable when it is raining.

“The road has been in a dilapidated state since before the January floods that ravaged most roads in the Nsikazi area. It has also been a long time since the potholes have been patched, and even when they are, the repairs last for a short period. That also tells you about the quality of work the department has to offer,” he said.

Sibiya said he hopes the department considers fast-tracking upgrades to the road following the Mpumalanga Provincial Treasury’s budget allocation for service delivery.

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A shopkeeper next to the road, who asked to not be named, said the road lacks drainage systems.

“Rainwater collects on the road and creates pools that weaken the tar. I always see frustrated motorists passing, and buses look like they will fall over as the drivers manoeuvre around the potholes,” she said.

In the 2026/27 budget allocation, the DPWRT received R6.5b. The allocation is expected to accelerate Kubhunya Lutfuli, a provincial road maintenance intervention programme. An additional R120m was allocated for the rehabilitation of road infrastructure damaged by recent severe flooding.

DPWRT spokesperson Bongani Dhlamini said teams have been patching potholes and repairing edge breaks since March 21. The project is expected to be completed by the end of April, weather permitting.

He did not indicate how much has been allocated to repair the KaBokweni Road.

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Mpumalanga News can confirm that patchwork has been carried out on the section between Plaston and Dwaleni and edge breaks were repaired near the Mpumalanga College of Nursing KaBokweni campus.

Another edge break remains untouched in Nkohlakalo, with hazardous potholes reported from that section.