Transport Minister Barbara Creecy says repairs to the R40 and R531 will take about a year as government prioritises climate-resilient infrastructure
Six months after devastating floods washed away key transport routes in Limpopo, the Department of Transport has begun reconstruction work on sections of the R40 and R531, two critical roads providing access to the Kruger National Park and surrounding communities.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy visited the affected sites on Tuesday, 21 July, to assess the progress of repair interventions and engage with stakeholders involved in the recovery efforts.
The roads sustained extensive damage during severe flooding in December 2025 and January 2026, forcing the closure of the R40 and R531 near Hoedspruit. With no viable alternative routes available, the closures have significantly affected motorists, tourism and freight movement in the region.
Speaking during the site visit, Creecy said contractors had officially started work on one of the most severely damaged sections of the R40.
“Behind me is one of the badly affected sections of the R40, and today is the first day that contractors are on site to repair this damage. The destruction is extensive. There are two areas where the road was completely washed away, while another section at the Selati River bridge suffered significant erosion. As a result, these sections of road will have to be completely rebuilt,” she said.
The reconstruction project is expected to cost more than R100 million and will take approximately 12 months to complete.
Creecy stressed the importance of restoring the route, noting that it serves as a key transport corridor for both tourism and commercial traffic.
“This area is critical, particularly for the movement of heavy vehicles travelling towards Mbombela. It is therefore essential that we restore these roads.”
Beyond restoring the damaged infrastructure, the Department of Transport is also looking to strengthen South Africa’s resilience to future extreme weather events.
Creecy said government would prioritise climate-resilient infrastructure during the reconstruction process and announced plans to bring together key infrastructure agencies to address the growing impact of climate change on the country’s transport network.
“We will convene a workshop in August with major infrastructure agencies to address the impact of climate change. The aim is to explore how we can adapt infrastructure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector.”