A cohort of 650 trainees enrolled in the Pothole Eradication Programme will be at the frontline in reshaping Free State road infrastructure.
About 70% of the province’s roads have been declared a danger to motorists due to terrible conditions, characterised by potholes that expand into sinkholes.
The group is continuing training in the partnership initiative undertaken by the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State, and the provincial Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport, on behalf of the Free State government.
The trainees are from the various communities in the province.
Their training will culminate in a Level 3 NQF qualification.
The university and the department launched the project at the Bloemfontein campus on 6 May.
The programme equips trainees with skills to eradicate potholes. The group was enrolled in November last year.
They continued with hands-on training, repairing 70 000 m2 of road sections since March.
Training is set in all five districts of the province: Mangaung, Xhariep, Lejweleputswa, Thabo Mofutsanyana and Fezile Dabi.
Seithati Semenokane, spokesperson for the CUT, said the training was accredited with the Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA), with strong emphasis on knowledge sharing, equipping the candidates with skills in road infrastructure maintenance and repairing potholes.
She said research on infrastructure was ongoing to ensure the solutions implemented for long-term road maintenance are sustainable.
According to Prof. Alfred Ngowi, CUT acting vice-chancellor and principal, the innovative partnership skills training programme is a potential game-changer that can transform the road maintenance approach in all provinces.
The university conducted an intensive research on potholes eradication, thereby opening training opportunity.
“This project is not just about improving the lives of countless motorists and reducing the costs of motor accident claims, but about creating a safer, more efficient road network for our communities. We envision a future where our roads are safe, our communities thrive, and our partnership continues to flourish,” said Ngowi.
Dan Kgothule of the Free State Premier’s office has encouraged candidates to continue dedicating their efforts during the train further.
“You must remain resilient and continue to work hard. We still have many kilometres of roads to repair in the province as there’s still a lot of work to be done,” said Khothule.
David Mohlakoana, one of the trainees, said attest that his life has improved since joining the programme in November 2023.
“I can now put bread on the table, which has instilled pride in me and my work.
“I can now sleep at night knowing that I’m not just fixing potholes, but I’m helping to save lives by improving our road conditions,” said Mohlakoa.
