The Drakenstein municipality’s (DM) mayoral committee has recommended that a budget of R16,1 million be approved for submission to the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure (DOI) for inclusion in its 2026-’27 budget for road works during the latest council meeting on 29 October.
If approved the DOI will fund 80% of the total cost, amounting to R12,9 million, while the DM will contribute 20% (R3,2 million) from its own funding under the 2026-’27 budget.
In terms of the Roads Ordinance (Ord 19/1976), the DOI should provide an annual subsidy for the construction, upgrading and maintenance of provincial roads within the Drakenstein municipal area.
The DM must however, submit its proposed budget to obtain funding from the Western Cape Department of Transport for inclusion in its 2026-’27 budget and currently it is proposed that R14,8 million in capital and R1,3 million in operational funding be submitted for consideration.
The projects that the DM aims to complete within this period include R3 million in capital works for Church Street between Berg Street and Bain Street in Wellington.
According to the DM council agenda tabled on 29 October, Church Street requires rehabilitation as “crocodile cracking” is evident on the surface, which may lead to “failure of the road surface and further deformation in the base coarse layer”.
Should funding be granted, the DOI will provide roughly R2,4 million, while the DM will contribute R610 000.
A further R1,3 million in maintenance works is proposed for Church Street, between Bain and Barlinka Street.
Currently, the road requires rehabilitation as “cracking, potholes and several undulations are evident on the surface and may lead to failure of the road as cracking in the surface may result [in] failure in the base coarse layers”.
The council agenda adds that “a preventative measure of crack sealing is proposed to lengthen the life span of the road”.
Should funding be approved the DOI will provide around R1 million, with the DM contributing R270 000.
Another R8,1 million in capital works is proposed for Main Road, Wellington, between Cillie Street and Pentz Street, as “crocodile cracking, pumping, horizontal and vertical cracking, undulations and road failure are evident on the surface and may lead to complete failure of the road surface and further deformatio in th base coarse layers”.
Should funding be approved the Department of Infrastructure will hand approximately R6,5 million over, with the DM contributing R1,6 million.
Currently, Main Road in Paarl also requires a R3,6 million rehabilitation, between Retief Street and the bus stop, close to the R45, as “pumping, horizontal and vertical cracking are evident on the surface and may lead to failure in the base coarse layers.”
Milling the existing surface out and replacing it with a new asphalt layer is also proposed.
Should funding be granted the DOI will provide about R2,8 million and the DM R720 000.
