By Staff Reporter
TZANEEN-The Mayor of the Greater Tzaneen Municipality, Councillor Gerson Molapisane, unveiled two new graders, which he says will help speed up service delivery in the municipality’s largely rural communities.
Addressing Councillors at the unveiling ceremony held in Tzaneen on Friday, 22 March 2024), Mayor Molapisane said his wish was for each of the four clusters (Lesedi, Relela, Runnymede, and Bulamahlo) to have a dedicated grader.
He said that the new graders, which will complement the old fleet made of three graders, will drastically improve road conditions in the municipality.
According to Olga Tshisevhe, the Director of Civil Engineering in the GTM, the new graders are equipped with a satellite tracking system to help locate them. She said,
“We can also see what time it was parked and the fuel level.” The two graders, which cost R6.3 million, also have air conditioners and fuel efficiency technology.
Delivering a vote of thanks, Councillor Conny Ramothwala, the head of Infrastructure Portfolio, said,
“I’m quite sure that these graders will make a difference in our communities” and that the new acquisition will ease her work.
The GTM consists of 4 085.67 km of a total road network which is comprised of 3091.36 km of municipal access roads, 821.31 km of provincial (RAL) roads, and 173 km of national (SANRAL) roads in terms of the current road classification. About 279.89 km of the network is surfaced/paved roads and 2811.47 km are gravel/dirt roads in the townships and rural segment of the municipality.
The Speaker, Whip of Council, EXCO members, and ward councillors attended the ceremony.
