R510 ROAD A DANGER ZONE – BUT SANRAL RESPONDS

Thabazimbi/ Northam – The R510 between Thabazimbi and Northam has once again come under fire, with residents and road safety advocates raising concerns about its hazardous condition.

As Platinum Bushvelder reported at the end of August 2025, a total of 38 accidents were recorded between July and August this year on this road. Motorists have pointed to potholes, a lack of shoulders, and inadequate road signage as the main culprits. The busy road carries heavy traffic daily, including community members, mining vehicles, and transport trucks — making its safety a matter of urgency.

In a press release on 4 September 2025, André Moss, Limpopo provincial leader for the VF Plus, said: “The R510 poses a serious threat to public safety. The fact that the contractor abandoned the project in November 2024, leaving the road in an unsafe condition, is unacceptable. Questions must also be asked about how the same contractor was awarded a new project elsewhere in the district despite failing to complete this one.”

SANRAL’s response
Following mounting pressure, the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) provided clarity on the status of the R510 project:

• Why the project stopped:
  SANRAL confirmed that 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.
• Next steps:
  A new procurement process is underway to appoint a replacement contractor. This will be finalised within the next few months.
• Completion outlook:
  With the project currently 65% complete, SANRAL estimates the remaining work will take about 18 months once construction resumes.
• Safety measures in the meantime:
  - Solid road markings have been implemented to discourage overtaking.
  - Traffic signage is monitored daily and replaced when damaged.
  - Potholes are repaired by maintenance teams when they occur.
  - Old road signs are being replaced with heavy-duty reboundable delineators for better visibility.
  - Temporary local speed ramps will be installed every 500m on critical sections, enforcing speeds of 40km/h.

Photo: The R510 between Northam and Thabazimbi: missing shoulders and poor signage — a daily hazard for motorists.