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The community of Maboloka in Madibeng Local Municipality has vowed to continue with protest action until long-standing concerns over poor road infrastructure are addressed, bringing daily activities to a standstill on Thursday – 05 February 2026.
Residents blockaded key entrances and exit points into Maboloka, burning tyres and closing roads, which disrupted schooling and prevented many workers from reporting for duty
One resident said the situation has become unbearable, especially for learners who rely on a damaged bridge to access Madikete Lion High School and Solomon Lion Primary School. “When it rains, our children cannot cross. They miss school because the bridge is unsafe,” she said.
Ward Councillor Papi Ratele confirmed that community members are furious and have resolved to escalate their protest by marching to the office of the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) in Mahikeng if urgent intervention is not forthcoming.
Meanwhile, the North West Department of Public Works and Roads acknowledged the protest, which centres on the rehabilitation and upgrading of Roads Z606 and Z608.
In a statement, the Department said it recognises the community’s concerns and regards the project as a priority to improve road safety and accessibility.
Officials engaged with community leaders on Wednesday afternoon to appeal for calm and to outline the way forward.
Residents were assured that MEC Sempe Elizabeth Mokua, together with Head of Department Moses Kgantsi, will meet with the community next week for further consultation and feedback.
According to the Department, consulting engineers were appointed in February 2024, but technical assessments later revealed that the original project scope was insufficient. As a result, the scope was expanded from 2.12 km to 6.71 km to provide safer and improved access, particularly for learners.
Although the tender was advertised in November 2025, none of the bidders met the required technical and safety compliance standards. In line with supply-chain regulations and the Department’s commitment to quality infrastructure delivery, the tender will be re-advertised on 17 February 2026, with the appointment of a contractor anticipated by 31 March 2026.
In the interim, a maintenance team has been deployed to attend to critical sections of the road to improve immediate driving conditions while the formal construction process is finalised.
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