Pniel
The days of residents of Pniel being trapped by muddy and inaccessible roads following heavy rainfall are set to become a thing of the past, following the recent official handover of the newly completed R36.49 million Pniel access road by Northern Cape Premier, Dr Zamani Saul, and MEC for Roads and Public Works, Mr Bentley Vass.
For years, heavy rainfall presented serious accessibility challenges for the community, making it difficult for residents to travel to neighbouring towns for schooling, work, healthcare and other socio-economic activities. Access by public transport, emergency services and the police was also affected by poor road conditions.
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The completion of the upgraded 4.5-kilometre access road connecting Pniel to the R31 therefore represents much more than an infrastructure investment. It provides the community with safer and more reliable access to essential services and economic opportunities.
The project was implemented by the Northern Cape Department of Roads and Public Works in two phases, with Phase 1 covering 2 kilometres and Phase 2 covering 2.5 kilometres, at a combined investment of approximately R36.49 million.
Speaking during the handover, MEC Vass said the completion of the road marked an important milestone, but stressed that the Department’s responsibility did not end with the official opening.
“We are here today to hand over and officially open this road. We thank the workers who participated in this project and gained valuable experience and skills in the process. Our responsibility as the Department of Roads and Public Works does not end here. We must now ensure that this road is properly maintained,” said MEC Vass.
He said the project formed part of government’s broader commitment to building a Modern, Growing and Successful Northern Cape through infrastructure that responds directly to the needs of communities.Beyond improving accessibility, the project also provided employment opportunities during construction. Across the two phases, a total of 99 work opportunities were created, of which 32 benefited women, 38 benefited young people and three benefited persons with disabilities.
The project also contributed to the Department’s contractor development objectives. Phase 1 was implemented by Moke Construction and Projects, a CIDB Grade 7 CE contractor, which at the time formed part of the Department’s first intake of 32 contractors under the Contractor Development Programme.
Phase 2 was implemented by Atisa Bokgabane Trading CC, a CIDB Grade 6 CE contractor.
The Department’s Contractor Development Programme is aimed at building the capacity of emerging contractors and enabling them to progressively improve their CIDB grading, technical expertise and business management capacity.
Premier Saul called on residents to take ownership of the newly completed infrastructure and protect it against vandalism and unnecessary damage. He emphasised that public infrastructure is constructed using public resources and must therefore be protected to ensure that future generations continue to benefit from the investment.
The handover also drew messages of support from local leaders, who welcomed the road as a major improvement for Pniel. They highlighted that emergency medical services, the police and public transport can now access the community more safely and reliably, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall.
Executive Mayor of the Frances Baard District Municipality, Cllr Wende Marekwa, welcomed the Premier, MEC and other guests to the community and described the occasion as an important milestone for the area.
As part of the day’s programme, Premier Saul and MEC Vass also jointly donated R20,000 in support of community organisations in Pniel. The donation will be shared among the Lutheran Church Choir, the Community Work Programme (CWP) and the local non-governmental organisation Age in Action, in recognition of the role these formations play within the community.
The Pniel project had previously been identified as part of the Department’s road upgrading programme, with government subsequently reporting in its 2026/27 Budget Vote that construction of the access road between the R31 and Pniel had been completed. The official handover now marks the transition of the project from construction to a fully operational public asset serving the people of Pniel.
