A COMMUNITY is Gatvol with Sanral
Residents of Thabazimbi and Northam in the Limpopo Province, have a bone to pick with the South African National Roads Agency Limited, due to the deadly, incomplete, and dangerous R510 road.
On August 31, this year, another two-lives were lost in a fatal head-on collision, of which irate community members has described the road as one of the deadliest in the country.
According to a local newspaper Platinum Bosvelder, it reported that another casualty occurred in October 31, 2025.
The inaction from Sanral will continue to claim more lives, according to anxious local businessman, Rendani Radzilani.
“It is now not only a matter of economics, but it is an urgent matter of life and death that the road project should be completed,” warned Radzilani, who pointed out angrily that communities now demand immediate resolution of the R510 road crisis from SANRAL.
The roadworks project, which aimed to expand lanes and mitigate overtaking dangers, was welcomed by residents in July 2022, during the implementation.
Unfortunately, it was abandoned in September 2024, which has become a shadow of its former glory.
The incomplete road connects Thabazimbi, Amandelbult and Northam, and some of the largest mines in the area, an economical hub. As a result, the ‘had enough’ community has issued an urgent plea to the (SANRAL) to immediately resolve their implementation challenges.
According to various media outlets, Sanral indicated: “The original budget was depleted, and the project was brought to an early close in November 2024. Additional expenditure required approval before new work could proceed. A new procurement process is underway to appoint a replacement contractor.”
But before a new budget is approved and contractor appointed, lives will continue to be lost, especially with festive season fast approaching.
Pierre Loots, director of Thaba Fire and Rescue, exercised that the road “urgently needs attention”, with emergency services recording 38 separate accidents on this stretch within two-months period (July 1 to August 31, 2025).
This infrastructure failure is crippling a region that is rich in intensive mining activity.
The road is also a key route for traffic to the Lephalale Power Station.
Heavy vehicles and high volumes of traffic during shift changes are compounding the inadequate road capacity, leading to discomfort and danger.
The recent (September 2025) installation of speed humps on certain sections of the road has exacerbated conditions and highlighted the need for an urgent completion of the works.
Local businesses are also suffering, prompting distress calls from the Thabazimbi Municipality.
“With inadequate warning signage and road markings, the speed humps are not a solution for the predicament we face daily. We cannot afford to have any more preventable injuries and deaths,” continued Radzilani, who is threatening to relocate his business that continues to bleed.
Albeit Sanral has indicated the ‘project will be completed’ the deadly R510 continues to haunt locals and their livelihoods.
Image supplied Thaba Fire and Rescue (The deadly R510 in Northam and Thabazimbi, recorded with a damaged vehicle that claimed a live).
