Gravel road hardship gives residents of Setlagole hope

By Tshidi Bokgwathile

Residents of Setlagole village, about 70 kilometers outside Mahikeng in the North West have endured years of isolation as unpaved roads turns to mudholes after heavy rains and rattle vehicles on bone-shaking roads year-round.

The residents said this has hindered  access to healthcare, schooling, and economic opportunity.

They said the gravel road that threads through Ward 14 has been a perennial hazard for decades and that it has  become a problem , particularly when it rains, leaving children stranded on the way to school and making it difficult for the sick to reach clinics and ambulances.

In December 2025, the municipality unveiled plans to pave a 3.5-kilometre section of the road in Ward 14, with R25.7 million allocated for the project.

Ratlou Local Municipality mayor Matlhomola Jafta assured residents that the gravel road will be a thing of the past soon. “We are not here to take questions or suggestions today. We are here to introduce the contractor appointed by the municipality,” he said.

A resident, Tebogo Lumko said he was happy about the initiative. “ Having a proper road will make a huge difference, and the jobs that come with it mean we will be able to support our families,” he said.

Another resident , Aiseng Mokoto recalled the hardships caused by the poor road: “When it rained, we could not walk here, and cars had to stop at the tar road because they could not pass. We are happy that vehicles will now be able to use this road.”

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) released a comprehensive investigative report in late 2025 documenting systemic service-delivery failures in the North West Province, including road maintenance that undermines residents’ constitutional rights to dignity, access to health services, and freedom of movement.

According to the November 2025 SAHRC report, poor road infrastructure forms part of widespread municipal failures that violate basic rights and compound rural exclusion. The report highlights that in municipalities across the North West, including the Ngaka Modiri Molema district, where Setlagole is located, infrastructure neglect alongside water, sanitation, and waste-management failures have trapped communities in cycles of hardship.

The SAHRC’s findings, aimed at pressuring local authorities to act, include directives to resolve sewage spillages and improve service delivery. Though the report’s core focus spans multiple basic services, poor roads feature as a persistent, compounding factor in limiting meaningful access to education, jobs, and healthcare.