By Akani Nkuna
Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba on Tuesday welcomed 140 new recruits to the provincial Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure, saying their appointment was critical to the province’s infrastructure drive and efforts to cut unemployment.
“As you settle into your roles, I encourage you to acclimatise yourselves fully to the operations, culture, and expectations of the department. Embrace a spirit of learning. Build relationships and serve the communities you represent as they are your greatest motivation,” she told the group.
The new hires, welcomed at Jack Botes Hall in Polokwane, form the fourth cohort of officials employed under the department’s recruitment programme.
According to the province, the latest intake brings the total number of permanently employed recruits in the initiative to 590.
“These achievements reflect a department that is not only functional, but forward-looking, responsive, and committed to strengthening the machinery of government. This confirms that our investments in infrastructure, maintenance, road construction, and service delivery are changing lives while simultaneously contributing to the country’s economic recovery,” Ramathuba said.
She linked the appointments to Limpopo’s recent labour-market gains.
Statistics South Africa’s latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey shows the province’s official unemployment rate fell by 5.2 percentage points, from 35.0% in the second quarter of 2025 to 29.8% in the third quarter – the biggest improvement of any province.
Provincial officials have said that public works and construction projects in Limpopo have been among the main contributors to recent job creation, including Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) opportunities.
Earlier this year, Finance MEC Kgabo Mahoai said Limpopo would spend a total of R21.617 billion on infrastructure over the next three years, with a significant share allocated to the Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure and its roads agency.
However, opposition parties have warned that budget shifts inside the portfolio could undermine long-term road upgrades. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo has raised the alarm over Roads Agency Limpopo’s budget being cut from R2.8 billion in 2024/25 to R958.617 million in 2025/26, while compensation of employees continues to increase.
In a September statement, DA provincial spokesperson for public works, roads and infrastructure Marie Helm said the administration budget for the department had increased from R458.878 million in 2024/25 to R638.852 million in 2025/26, while allocations to “critical programmes” barely grew.
She said this risked weaker project delivery and more unmaintained roads.
Ramathuba on Tuesday told the new officials to help reverse those perceptions by embracing the department’s internal performance campaigns and outreach drives — including #OperationTsogaMoshomi, #DikgerekgereWednesdays, Operation Vhuisa Thundu ya Muvhuso, #StakeholderTuesdays and intensified project monitoring — which are aimed at tightening discipline, improving road maintenance and strengthening community engagement.
She told the recruits that the province’s development ambitions would depend on their conduct and professionalism.
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