POLOKWANE – Public Works MEC Ernest Rachoene recently held a strategic meeting with Mayor John Mpe to discuss key service delivery priorities, with a focus on devolving roads infrastructure to the city.

The department said the devolution process involves transferring ownership and administrative control, including maintenance and upgrades, from one sphere of government to another.

The move gives practical effect to the seventh administration’s commitment to decisively address challenges in road infrastructure provision.

In this regard, the board of directors of Roads Agency Limpopo (Ral), led by shareholder representative Rachoene, resolved to devolve selected roads to Polokwane Municipality to fast-track service delivery and stimulate economic growth in the provincial capital.

Mpe reaffirmed the city’s role as an economic catalyst within Limpopo.

“The collapse or growth of Polokwane has a direct impact on the province, and as the municipality we are ready to come on board and assist in serving our people, working together with the department and its entity RAL,” he said.

Rachoene said the devolution process is a necessary intervention to accelerate development in communities.

“The District Development Model affords us an opportunity to work together and ensure that we deliver services efficiently, because that is what our communities expect from us. In their eyes, we are one government,” he said.

To operationalise the decision, a joint task team has been established, co-led by Ral CEO Makhita Chesane and city manager Thuso Nemugumoni.

The team is expected to develop a comprehensive plan of action to guide the transfer process and implementation.