Berea, Feb.19- Mahlatsa Taxi Association (MTA) says it is optimistic that the gravel road between Ha-Mamathe and Mahlatsa will be rehabilitated in the 2026/27 financial year following the allocation of M2.1 billion for roads and buildings announced in the national budget.
The association made the remarks after the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Dr. Rets’elisitsoe Matlanyane, presented the 2026/27 fiscal projections on Wednesday. In her budget speech, she highlighted an allocation of M2.1 billion aimed at strengthening national connectivity and upgrading critical infrastructure.
MTA Chairperson, Mr. Tankiso Ts’ehla, said although the Minister did not specify which roads would be prioritised, they remain hopeful that the Ha-Mamathe–Mahlatsa road will be considered. He recalled that earlier this year the Minister of Public Works and Transport visited the area to witness firsthand the challenges faced by operators and residents due to the poor condition of the road.
Mr. Ts’ehla noted that following the Minister’s visit, the road underwent minor repairs, particularly at some dangerous spots. However, he said the grading process caused further damage in certain areas because quarry material was not added to stabilise the surface. As a result, some sections have become muddy and are now only accessible by four-wheel-drive vehicles.
He added that their hopes were further revived when officials from the Department of Roads were recently seen conducting surveys in the area.
The MTA chairperson pointed out that the road serves several villages, stressing that its rehabilitation would benefit the broader community and reduce the financial burden on taxi operators who frequently incur high maintenance costs due to the deteriorating road conditions.
Earlier this year, Mahlatsa taxi operators staged a week-long strike in protest against the poor state of the road, leaving many passengers stranded.
Meanwhile, in her budget presentation, Dr. Matlanyane indicated that the M2.1 billion allocations for Roads and Buildings will support the construction and rehabilitation of asphalt and gravel roads across districts. The budget will also facilitate the commencement of strategic projects, including the Katse to Thaba-Tseka road and the Tebellong vehicular bridge, initiation of new roads, feasibility studies, rehabilitation of priority corridors and procurement processes for railway rehabilitation.
In addition, the budget will support the completion of bus terminals, community council offices and police stations, aviation infrastructure upgrades at Moshoeshoe I International Airport, waste management facilities, fire services infrastructure, maintenance of government buildings and housing, as well as community-based climate resilience projects under the local climate adaptive living facility.
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