Premier Phophi Ramathuba and MEC Ernest Rachoene roll out graders, dozers and bakkies, promising that the “yellow fleet” will start grading roads the moment it leaves the stadium. Pictures Credits: Limpopo Newspaper
By Duncan Mnisi
Limpopo – Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba and Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure MEC Ernest Rachoene on Thursday unveiled a brand-new fleet of 105 yellow and white vehicles at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
The convoy includes graders, dozers, front-end loaders, tipper trucks, trailers, minibuses and double-cab bakkies — all earmarked for the province’s road-grading programme.
“A fleet only becomes meaningful when it turns into action,” Ramathuba told the crowd. “Once these vehicles leave here today, their impact must be felt immediately. Roads that have long deteriorated must begin to show progress.”
Rachoene said the new machines will give a major boost to the internal Dikgerekgere programme, which uses provincial employees to upgrade roads and infrastructure. “This will go a long way in capacitating our cost centres and ensuring improved service delivery. The work of Dikgerekgere Wednesdays will be accelerated,” he said, also expressing appreciation for the Seventh Administration under Ramathuba’s leadership.
The launch forms part of an ongoing effort to strengthen service delivery. Earlier this year, the province announced the appointment of 140 new officials, building on a series of recruitments totalling 590 staff since December 2024.
The new fleet also expands on the previous rollout of 251 yellow machines in December 2024, which included front loaders, graders and concrete mixers already put to work on gravel roads across the province.
Deputy Minister of Defence Bantu Holomisa praised the initiative, calling the revival of the “yellow fleet” a significant step toward enhancing road infrastructure and urging other provinces to follow suit.
With the addition of these machines, the Department of Public Works aims to double the output of its existing fleet of over 500 vehicles, fast-tracking the blading, regravelling and clearing of long-neglected road reserves.
The yellow fleet is expected to hit the gravel this week, with residents set to see freshly graded surfaces on some of Limpopo’s most worn-out routes very soon.
