The North West provincial government has reached practical completion on a R479.6-million road rehabilitation project that upgraded roughly 25.8 kilometres of regional routes linking Lichtenburg and Gelukspan, the Premier reported at a recent briefing.
What was done and why it matters
Provincial officials said the work on Road D933 and Road D2095 included pavement rehabilitation and resurfacing targeted at restoring safe, all-weather access on a route used by commuters, freight vehicles and farming traffic. The upgrade forms part of a wider push by the provincial government to improve mobility and connectivity across the Ngaka Modiri Molema District.
Premier Lazarus Mokgosi told the briefing that the project’s completion will ease movement between towns and support economic activity in the area. The upgrade follows other recent provincial investments in regional roads and forms part of a broader plan to strengthen cross-border links and trade corridors.
Complementary municipal road interventions
Alongside the Lichtenburg–Gelukspan rehabilitation, the province has moved to tackle municipal networks in the Ditsobotla Local Municipality. A comprehensive assessment of priority streets in Lichtenburg has identified several primary corridors for intervention:
- Nelson Mandela Drive
- R52
- Beyers Naudé Drive
Planned activities in these areas include pothole patching, asphalt overlays and further rehabilitation work carried out in partnership with the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL). The Premier also announced the resealing of Dr Mangope Drive and First Street in Itsoseng, with construction scheduled to start in August.
Audit outcomes and municipal governance
The provincial briefing also set out progress in municipal financial governance. Mokgosi highlighted audit improvements in several municipalities for the 2025/26 financial year, noting that some moved from qualified to unqualified audit opinions. Municipalities cited as recording improved outcomes include:
| Municipality | 2025/26 outcome |
|---|---|
| Moses Kotane | Unqualified |
| JB Marks | Unqualified |
| Greater Taung | Unqualified |
The Premier said that the number of municipalities with disclaimer opinions had fallen from nine in 2020/21 to one in 2024/25. Ditsobotla remains the only municipality in the province with a disclaimer opinion, though Ratlou Local Municipality was singled out for moving from a disclaimer to a qualified outcome after completing its Annual Financial Statement submission without the use of consultants.
Ongoing challenges and a recalibrated approach
Mokgosi acknowledged that several municipalities still face serious financial and governance difficulties. He said the Provincial Executive Council had approved a recalibrated approach to financial recovery interventions to stabilise municipalities and accelerate improvements.
The Premier also flagged a significant investment opportunity in the province: the Bojanala Special Economic Zone (SEZ), which he said was nearing completion after the appointment of two senior officials by the national Minister of Trade and Industry to provide strategic governance and oversight.
Local impact and what residents can expect
For residents and businesses in Lichtenburg and surrounding farming communities, the resurfaced D933 and D2095 should mean shorter travel times, fewer vehicle damages from poor road surfaces and more reliable freight movements during harvest seasons. The planned resealing of streets in Itsoseng and further repairs in Lichtenburg aim to reduce pothole-related hazards and improve daily commutes.
Road users are advised to remain mindful of maintenance crews during follow-up work and to observe temporary traffic restrictions where these are put in place for safety.
While the newly completed project represents a significant capital investment in regional infrastructure, the Premier’s briefing made clear that roads form only one element of a broader recovery agenda that links infrastructure delivery, municipal governance and investment attraction.
As the province moves to implement its recalibrated recovery plans, local communities and labour groups will be watching whether improved roads translate into sustained economic opportunities and steady service delivery at municipal level.
