The Department of Transport has unveiled a pioneering plan to reinforce collapsing roads in the North West Province through the innovative application of nanotechnology. This ground-breaking initiative aims to enhance road surfaces and curb water seepage, significantly improving the country's deteriorating road infrastructure.
The ministry has committed to launching a pilot programme that harnesses the potential of nanotechnology to transform road construction.
Professor Lebo Seru, a researcher in Nanotechnology at North West University (NWU), said: "Nanotechnology products are commercially available in agriculture, medicine, food, cosmetics, materials, electronics, energy, automotive and environmental science.
"There has been a growing interest in advanced nanomaterials for road construction engineering in recent years due to their fascinating properties, which manipulate molecules and atoms to accomplish increased functioning of existing material properties, thus leading to possible problem-solving methods in road construction. It has been reported that the global nanotechnology market is anticipated to exceed US$ 125 billion by 2024.
"The nanotechnology-based solution presents a promising opportunity to address some of South Africa's pressing road challenges. Research suggests that nanotechnology can extend the lifespan of roads, mitigating the need for constant repairs and reducing damage caused by overloading - an issue that plagues the country's roadways," added Prof Seru.
While the exact details of the pilot programme remain undisclosed, the urgent need to revamp South Africa's road infrastructure is undeniable. The country's provincial and municipal roads have fallen into disrepair, characterized by potholes and decay due to years of neglect and insufficient maintenance.
One contributing factor to the road crisis is the collapse of the rail infrastructure, which has forced a significant portion of freight transportation from rail to road. Criminal activity and neglect have taken a toll on the once-thriving rail network, further burdening the strained road system.
To tackle the multifaceted road problem, the Department of Transport has introduced two additional initiatives in conjunction with the nanotechnology pilot. The government's "Operation Valazonke," aimed at addressing potholes, will be intensified.
Additionally, more roads will be transferred to the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) as part of a larger strategy to entrust key road maintenance responsibilities to a more capable and centralized entity.
Under this plan, the North West Province will compile a comprehensive list of roads marked for transfer to Sanral. These roads will be officially designated national roads and managed by Sanral, bringing much-needed expertise and resources to road maintenance efforts. The initiative also encompasses rural roads earmarked for block paving, including cost estimates and funding availability.
