The Northern Cape provincial government has announced that repairing road infrastructure devastated by severe flooding in the Kuruman area will require approximately R4 billion.
The John Taolo Gaetsewe District was struck by heavy rainfall in early May, causing extensive damage to roads and bridges. More than 80 villages were affected, with many completely cut off from essential services and supply routes.
Northern Cape Premier Dr. Zamani Saul confirmed that the flooding impacted not only transportation networks but also water infrastructure and other critical public services. “The roads have been damaged, other service infrastructure has also been damaged, and collectively we are working on a comprehensive response to deal with these challenges,” Saul stated. He noted that a preliminary assessment covering all three affected districts of the province indicates repair costs totaling around R4 billion, and that the provincial government is coordinating closely with national authorities.
The provincial administration has completed damage assessments across affected areas and is working urgently to restore critical infrastructure.
Fufe Makatong, the Northern Cape’s Member of the Executive Council for Roads and Public Works, said officials now have a clearer understanding of the scope and severity of the destruction. “I think we’ve got a better sense of where exactly the damages are and how intense they are,” Makatong said. “It’s also quite important that we embark on such an exercise so we can get an actual feeling for us to be able to plan better and also plan in a way where you would be able to get the actual results of what the floods have and how far they have affected the area.”
Bentley Vass, MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), acknowledged existing budget constraints but expressed confidence in the recovery trajectory. “I know that we are sitting with the challenges of budget, but still we are confident that soon things will change to the better for our communities,” Vass said. “It’s clear that we are sitting with serious infrastructure challenges and also in terms of our future planning. It’s important how we plan, and that’s why the district development model is critical in terms of our planning, making sure that we plan as a collective, making sure that we render the best services to our communities.”
Premier Saul emphasized that restoring bridges and connecting roads remains the immediate priority. Residents in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District can expect to see visible progress on repairs within the coming months.
