RAL partners with PMC for new road

THANKS to an agreement between Road Agency Limpopo (RAL) and Phalabora Mining Company (PMC) residents of Phalaborwa will be able to use a better tarred road between the town and Mica soon.

Roads Agency Limpopo has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Phalabora Mining Company and the memorandum was signed last Monday morning at a ceremony at the RAL offices in Polokwane.

The agreement was concluded in relation to the rehabilitation of the 37 km tarred road connecting Phalaborwa and Mica, a small mining town in the area.

The road is used by the Phalabora Mining Company to transport their raw material to Maputo.

RAL and PMC will reconstruct the road, a project that will cost an estimated R78 million and will take 18 months to complete. Construction will start in September.

Richard Rikhotso, acting executive road manager said they hoped the road would be finished in less time than estimated.

“The road will be divided in sections and constructed in sections so that the road is not completely closed.

“There will be stop and go’s, but the road will be functioning for those 18 months,” he said.

Keith Mathole, PMC general manager for corporate affairs said the road was very important to PMC as a mining company that transport a lot of heavy materials.

“That is why we took it upon ourselves to make sure the road is in good condition. As part of our social corporate investment, this project will support small, medium and micro enterprises (SMME) in Phalaborwa.

“We pledge that 10% of the work that has to be done on the project will be done by local labour and local SMME’s will be employed on the project.”

Matome Ralebipi, chairperson of the RAL board, said: “We appreciate this kind of partnerships from the PMC. This partnership will help us save money for other projects, so that we can do or improve more roads”.