Minister orders action on Limpopo village’s long-delayed tar road
After 30 years of waiting, residents in Vuwani welcome a ministerial directive for the premier and MEC to intervene in collapsed road infrastructure.
LIMPOPO – Residents of Tshimbupfe village near Vuwani have welcomed a directive by Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni to the Premier, Dr Phophi Ramathuba and Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure MEC Ernest Rachoene to urgently intervene in the long-standing collapse of road infrastructure in the area.
For more than 30 years, Tshimbupfe residents have endured severely damaged gravel roads, which become especially dangerous during rainy weather. In recent years, the community has increasingly used social and traditional media platforms to highlight their frustrations and demand that government honour its promise to construct a tar road.
On January 6, a social media post highlighting the delayed project drew a response from Ntshavheni, who advised that the road upgrade be included in the Collins Chabane Municipality Integrated Development Plan (IDP). Residents responded that the road had already been listed in previous IDPs and provided supporting evidence.
Acknowledging the information, Ntshavheni thanked residents and instructed the premier and MEC Rachoene to urgently engage with the community. She noted that the road upgrade had already formed part of Roads Agency Limpopo’s 2009–2011 multi-year plan.
“I appreciate the backlog created by previous mismanagement of RAL. There is a need to meaningfully engage with affected communities on plans to address their plight,” she said, adding that the premier had committed to looking into the matter. The minister further told residents to inform her if no officials visited Tshimbupfe within 30 days to provide feedback.
Community leader Nthambeleni Gabara praised the intervention, saying residents had chosen lawful and constructive engagement instead of violent protest. “We use social media to promote development, not lawlessness. The time for planning is over; now is the time to implement,” he said.
Rendani Mushadu added: “All we ask for is a tar road. Other things we can do ourselves. This is long overdue.” Edzisani Tshikonwane said residents had waited since 1994 for a tar road. “We are finally smiling after this intervention.” Traditional leader Thovhele Advocate Tshedza Netshimbupfe also welcomed the minister’s involvement as a major step forward.
Gabara previously approached the Public Protector in October 2025, requesting an investigation into the failure by various authorities to upgrade roads D3778, D3753 and D3718, which link Malonga, Hanani, Tshimbupfe and Thohoyandou. Despite several promises, including the appointment of a consultant engineer in 2023, no construction has yet taken place.
