The Northern Cape Provincial Government on Wednesday 24 June launched an “aggressive dual-intervention initiative” aimed at rehabilitating broken road networks and transforming service delivery within the Sol Plaatje Municipality in Kimberley.

Premier Zamani Saul, alongside Roads and Public Works MEC Fufe Makatong; Frances Baard District Mayor Wende Marekwa; City Manager Thapelo Matlala and Sol Plaatje Executive Mayor Martha Bartlett, officially spearheaded the rollout of the Operation Vala Zonke project and unveiled a brand-new R98 million “Yellow Fleet” of heavy road maintenance machinery.

The high-stakes infrastructure blitz comes just ahead of the municipality approving its R4.2 billion budget for the 2026-’27 financial year.

Launch event marks start of repairs

The programme commenced in Long Street, Kimberley, where officials unveiled the new Yellow Fleet machinery and witnessed the first phase of pothole patching operations. Long Street was selected as the launch site due to its strategic economic importance, high traffic volumes and visible deterioration of road infrastructure.

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The delegation then proceeded to Galeshewe, where additional pothole patching teams were already hard at work repairing roads and restoring critical transport routes. The day concluded at the Kimberley Taxi Rank, where the government launched a large-scale cleaning and beautification initiative aimed at creating a cleaner, safer and more welcoming urban environment for residents, commuters and visitors.

According to officials, the government’s intervention follows growing public concerns regarding deteriorating road conditions, stormwater damage and maintenance backlogs, with municipal records reflecting more than 650 pothole and road-related service complaints.

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Comprehensive approach to infrastructure

Zandisile Luphahla, departmental spokesperson, says the intervention aims to repair approximately 18 500 square metres of road surface, improve road safety, enhance mobility, reduce vehicle damage and preserve critical municipal infrastructure.

Teams deployed include municipal road maintenance crews, Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) beneficiaries, Jet-Patcher units, asphalt repair teams and road reserve maintenance teams working simultaneously across the municipality.

In addition to road repairs, the programme focuses on grass cutting, bush clearing, stormwater drain cleaning, illegal dumping removal, traffic island maintenance, sidewalk cleaning and general environmental beautification.

While the pothole patching programme is expected to run for three months, the cleaning and beautification campaign will continue as an ongoing initiative to ensure that public spaces remain clean, safe and attractive.

Addressing urban growth

Speaking at the event, Bartlett noted that the municipality now serves over 277 000 people.

“In the past, areas like Roodepan had about 10 000 people, and now we are sitting with more than 30 000 residents,” Bartlett stated. “That is why we have infrastructure shortages and shortcomings. But Operation Vala Zonke will change the face of the city.”

The newly unveiled Yellow Fleet will remain deployed in Sol Plaatje for the entire three-month duration to regravel and repair failing roads. The fleet includes graders, tipper trucks, water tankers, front-end loaders, TLBs, excavators and other critical machinery required to maintain the province’s extensive road network.

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Battle against crumbling infrastructure

Makatong said the programme reflects government’s determination to provide practical solutions to the concerns raised by residents. Some 40% of Kimberley’s roads are gravel roads, due to rapid township expansion.

“It is a government-led intervention utilising municipal and provincial resources to deliver visible results. Through the deployment of our Yellow Fleet machinery and skilled road maintenance teams, we are strengthening government’s internal capacity to maintain roads, respond faster to infrastructure challenges and improve service delivery,” she says.

Saul emphasised that this provincial intervention is a strategic escalation of the ongoing battle against crumbling infrastructure.

“Sol Plaatje should be our pride. It is the biggest municipality in the province, the provincial capital, and the only secondary city we have. We must afford reliable, uninterrupted supply of quality water and ensure our roads are usable.”

Reflecting on the scale of the crisis, Saul shared a lighthearted moment, recalling when his daughter was learning to drive. “She said to me, ‘Papa, honestly, why can’t you guys just fix them?’ So, let us make it a point to maintain our infrastructure.”