Hands-On Leadership: MEC Tonny Rachoene Inspects Tzaneen Road Upgrade as Limpopo Pushes Infrastructure Revival

Hands-on oversight: Limpopo MEC for Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure Tonny Rachoene conducts a monitoring visit to the ongoing rehabilitation of Road P43/3 (Eiland) in Tzaneen, Mopani District. The former ANCYL Limpopo chairperson, now ANC Limpopo PEC member and Provincial Spokesperson, said the project is key to improving infrastructure and transport access for local communities.

By Mpho Dube, Editor-in-Chief, The Azanian

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TZANEEN – Limpopo MEC for Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure Tonny Rachoene took oversight to the ground on Tuesday, conducting a hands-on monitoring visit to the rehabilitation of Road P43/3 (Eiland) in the Tzaneen Local Municipality, Mopani District.

The newly elected ANC Limpopo Provincial Executive Committee member and Provincial Spokesperson said the project forms part of an aggressive provincial drive to fix key economic routes, improve safety, and unlock transport accessibility for rural and farming communities.

Walking the construction site and engaging engineers and workers, Rachoene stressed that the Department would not manage projects “from behind a desk”. 

“We are rehabilitating Road P43/3 because our people deserve roads that move goods, attract investment, and get children to school safely,” Rachoene said. “This is what a people’s government looks like — we plan, we build, and we monitor until the job is done.”

The Eiland route is a vital connector for farmers, tourism operators, and residents in the Mopani District. Its rehabilitation is expected to reduce travel time, lower vehicle operating costs, and improve access to markets and services.

Rachoene, the former ANCYL Limpopo provincial chairperson, was recently elected to the ANC Limpopo PEC at the party’s 11th provincial elective conference. Delegates also entrusted him with the critical role of ANC PEC Head of Communication, making him the official ANC Limpopo Provincial Spokesperson.

Colleagues describe his dual deployment in government and the party as a sign of confidence in his blend of political maturity and service delivery focus. Since taking over the Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure portfolio, Rachoene has prioritised visible monitoring, contractor accountability, and community updates on all major projects.

“ANC renewal means being present where the work happens,” said a senior departmental official who accompanied the MEC. “MEC Rachoene is setting a standard — if the road is in Tzaneen, then the MEC must be in Tzaneen.”

The Department confirmed that the P43/3 rehabilitation forms part of Limpopo’s broader infrastructure roll-out aimed at stimulating local economies and creating jobs through construction.

Rachoene instructed the project team to maintain quality, adhere to timelines, and maximise local labour.

“This road carries produce, workers, and opportunity. When we fix it, we don’t just pour tar — we pour dignity back into our communities,” Rachoene told workers on site.

As both MEC and the official voice of the ANC in Limpopo, Rachoene is positioning infrastructure delivery as the clearest expression of the governing party’s mandate. His site visit signals a no-nonsense approach to monitoring that residents and contractors will be seeing more often.

The Azanian will monitor the situation and provide updates as they develop.