​By Botho Male
The Department has, on Tuesday
23 January 2024, officially
opened Road P241/1 following
completion of its rehabilitation
work. MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela was on hand to lead the
ribbon cutting ceremony flanked
by various stakeholders in
Lenasia, City of Johannesburg.
Road P241/1, located south of
Johannesburg, serves as one of two main
links between Lenasia and the city of
Johannesburg.

The project saw a total of approximately
13km of pavement being rehabilitated to
ease mobility along this vital single
carriageway route. 
As a major route in the area, the road’s
rehabilitation project was required for an
increased design life of over twenty years.
Its rehabilitation served to improve the road
surface and subsurface drainage, in addition
to providing employment and skills
development opportunities in the
surrounding areas.
The project had its fair share of challenges
that hampered its delivery period and led to
delays.
This included community unrest. In her
address, the MEC Diale-Tlabela encouraged
the community to make use the correct
platforms to raise concerns relating to the
Department’s projects, as costly delays lead
to missed targets. “Among the variation
orders arising from the project is the
standing time caused by community unrest. 
This translates to a reduction in job creation
because funds must be diverted from other
projects to cover the standing costs caused
by these delays” she cautioned.
The project, successfully completed at a
cost estimated at close to R140 million,
provided more than eighty employment
opportunities during construction. 
The
included participation of local Small,
Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs)
with local labour gaining skills and
development opportunities. 
The project also
contributed to improving the local economy.
Through the provision of quality road
infrastructure, the Gauteng Provincial
Government demonstrates committed to
improving the lives.
This rehabilitation also goes a long way in
reinforcing the Department’s stance in
uplifting the province’s youth, women and
people with disabilities.
The completion of this project further
illustrated what successful collaboration
between the Department, businesses and
stakeholders can do in ensuring enhanced
mobility and increase economic activity in
the province.