WATCH | Stand-off over R50m road ‘diverted’ to mayor’s neighbourhood

What was meant to be a road project aimed at improving access to essential services has become the centre of controversy inMukhomi village, about 50km from Giyani in Limpopo. The project has since been halted after residents took the matter to court claiming they were never consulted about a R50m, 3.5km road project. They said they were initially led to believe it would serve key routes used to access schools, clinics and hospitals.

A project meant to bring development in Mukhomi village near Malamulele in Limpopo is mired in controversy, with allegations of bribery and claims that the community was never consulted.Reporter:@MimieShanapic.twitter.com/CRo4ZjuqKf Instead, they said, the road is being constructed in an area that primarily benefits the neighbourhood of the mayor, raising questions about public participation, transparency and whether the project reflects the community’s actual needs. This resulted in villagers launching an urgent interdict at the Thohoyandou high court to stop construction. However, their legal representative was allegedly enticed with a R50,000 bribe to abandon the matter.

Javu Mthombeni, a resident of Mukhomi and president of Enough is Enough Mukhomi community, said the whole ordeal began on October 31 2025. He said it was when he and other residents learnt that there was a hiring process ongoing for people who would be working on the road project. “I questioned from the outset how they were hiring when the community had not yet been consulted regarding where the road would be constructed. “The last feedback from the municipality had been that there was a budget of R50m and there would be a public consultation about where the road would be built.