POLOKWANE – Major roadworks in the CBD and suburbs have sparked debate, with residents asking whether the city is finally repairing its roads or merely patching problems flagged in a damning government report.

From July 29 to October 30, the municipality will rehabilitate key economic routes in the CBD, Ladanna, Flora Park, Nirvana and Westenburg. Road signs have been erected to warn motorists.

Alarming 80% roads backlog

But the timing has not gone unnoticed. A National Treasury performance assessment earlier this year rated Polokwane’s service delivery as “distressed” and revealed what is described as an “alarming 80% backlog on roads”.

This means the city completed only 20% of the road repairs it had targeted. The report also highlighted more serious concerns, with the city’s biggest challenge identified as “wastewater treatment plants operating beyond capacity”, posing a risk of untreated waste flowing into local water sources.

Across all seven clusters, 28% have no municipal water, 52% no sanitation and 13% no electricity. The city is also losing 34.4% of its water and 14.7% of its electricity to leaks and theft.

Cable theft and vandalism were also highlighted. The municipality said at the time that it may need to deploy 24-hour armed security to protect infrastructure.

Sound finances, poor delivery

Despite these challenges, the section of the Treasury report seen by the Polokwane Observer rated the municipality as “sound” on finances, governance and administration, with no political instability.

Associate Professor Ricky Mukonza from the Tshwane University of Technology said sound finances do not necessarily translate into good service delivery.

“You may have the books balancing, but on the ground you will not have matching service delivery,” he said.

“An 80% road infrastructure backlog means only 20% of the target was met. For a municipality the size of Polokwane, that is quite shocking.

“The question is whether there is the political and administrative will to ensure these tasks are completed, not whether the people who do the work are skilled. It is also about whether service providers are pushed to deliver lasting quality when the work happens,” he said.

Mayor defends project

Mayor John Mpe defended the project during the first council sitting of the 2026/27 financial year. He said busy roads are being tarred first because they keep the economy going and get people to their places of work, adding that the programme has nothing to do with which party controls a ward or who runs it.

Mukonza said better monitoring by provincial and national government is needed to ensure municipalities deliver.

Residents divided

Meanwhile, residents expressed mixed views about the major road maintenance targeting parts of the CBD, Ladanna, Flora Park, Nirvana and Westenburg, among other areas on the outskirts of the immediate town.

Zelda Herbst said: “I was in Gauteng for a while. This is by far better than any of the other provinces.”

Pieter Bester was less impressed: “Near voting season. Smell the fresh tar and empty promises. The time for change is now.”

Peter Tlouane said: “Polokwane roads are a mess. You cannot even drive in a straight line. Dendron Road, Flora Park, Seshego… Nelson Mandela bridge needs a forensic investigation.”