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.