Frequently asked questions

Roads Agency Limpopo (RAL) is a State-Owned Company, registered as such in terms of the Companies Act, 71 of 2008, and it is a schedule 3C Provincial Public Entity, listed as such in terms of the Public Finance Management Act 1 of 1999. RAL was established by the Limpopo Provincial Government, in 1999, through the promulgation of the Limpopo Roads Agency Proprietary Limited and Provincial Roads Act 7 of 1998, as amended. The ownership and control of RAL is vested in the MEC responsible for the Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure, on behalf of the Provincial Government.

The mandate of RAL is clearly set out in Section 25 of the Limpopo Province Roads Agency Proprietary Limited and Provincial Roads Act 7 of 1998 as amended. The main functions and responsibilities of the Agency are to perform:

All strategic planning about the provincial road system, and

The planning, design, construction, operation, management, control, maintenance and rehabilitation of provincial roads for the Province.

RAL is also responsible for the outdoor advertising and any business activity taking place within the provincial road reserves. Road reserves are the spaces between the yellow line of the road and the fence.

RAL is solely owned by the Limpopo Provincial government. So, the Limpopo Provincial government is the shareholder of RAL and appointed the MEC for the Limpopo Department of Public Works, Road and Infrastructure as its shareholder representative. The Board of RAL therefore reports to the MEC of the department.

There are five districts in the Limpopo Province. These are: Waterberg, Vhembe, Capricorn, Mopani, Sekhukhune and Capricorn districts. Provincial roads are roads that connects the five districts of Limpopo. These roads are often marked P123 or D..

National roads are those that connect the cities of South Africa (SA) and SA to the rest of African continent. These are roads are often marked N1, N2, N14 etc. These roads are under the control of the South African Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL).

These are often referred to as streets and are found within cities, towns and villages. These roads are under the control of various districts and local municipalities.

RAL is responsible for over 20 500km of provincial roads. Out of this number, about 6500km is tarred and 14000km is gravel or dirt.

All current and future owners of advertising signs (billboards) that are on or visible from provincial and district roads are required to register their advertising signs with immediate effect. As provided for in the Provincial Roads Act No 7 of 1998, all advertising signs owners are required to apply to the Roads Agency Limpopo (RAL) for approval before erecting such signs.

The following fees are applicable: A R2000 application fee (Once off). An approval fee depending on the size and location of the sign (Once off). A monthly rental fee (Only applicable if on our road reserves).

An application can be obtained from our offices or downloaded from our website at www.ral.co.za.

All un-registered signs will be removed by an appointed contractor and all costs for storage, removal and any additional charges incurred by the agency will be carried by the owner of the advertising sign.

If the billboard is visible from Provincial or District roads, then you will still have to submit an application for approval. However, since it is located on private property you will not be liable for rental charges.

For more information, please contact, Mr Phuti Montjane, of Land Use Management Unit at 015 284 4600/02 or log onto www.ral.co.za Roads Agency Limpopo “Together for better roads”

RAL is solely owned by the Limpopo Provincial government. So, the Limpopo Provincial government is the shareholder of RAL and appointed the MEC for the Department of Public Works, Roads & Infrastructure as its shareholder representative. The Board of RAL therefore reports to the MEC of the department.

RAL appointed a panel of consultants and contractors in 2021 for three years ending in 2024. Prospective road construction consultants and contractors will be able to apply to be part of the panel when the current contract expires and there is a new advertisement for a new panel. In addition, they will be required to have been registered on the CSD and CIDB.

Emerging contractors need to be registered with the CSD and CIDB. They may then approach the main contractors for SMME subcontracting opportunities in their communities. This will afford them the opportunity to achieve upper-level grades that will contribute towards their eligibility to become the main contractors.

The process to prioritise a road depends on several considerations such as the output of the Road Asset Management System (RAMS) which contains data on the condition of all roads within the province and prioritises them based on functional and structural integrity; the amount of traffic on the road; and whether the road strategically feeds into schools, hospitals/clinics, and areas of economic development. Municipal consultations are performed to align the Agency’s plan with the needs of communities, as part of the prioritisation process.

From time to time, RAL will decide to apply pre-qualification criteria to advance certain designated groups by indicating in the tender document the percentage the bidder should meet for subcontracting or state the maximum percentage allowed for subcontracting after the awarding of a tender.

The tender process at RAL starts with an advertisement with all the requirements presented on its website and the Provincial Tender Bulletin. The details of the briefing sessions and closing dates will be issued in the same advertisement. Tenders will be evaluated according to the defined criteria in the tender document.
Currently, a panel of consultants and contractors for road construction in 2021 for three years ending in 2024 is appointed. Prospective consultants and contractors can apply to be part of the panel when the current contract expires and there is a new advertisement for a new panel. In addition, they will be required to have been registered on the CSD and CIDB.

Roads Agency Limpopo (RAL) advertises posts as and when they become open on the Agency’s website, social media platforms and local mainstream media. Job seekers are advised to apply for the posts when they are advertised using the specified method.

Rezoning and subdivision
Click on the link below for guidelines on the application for development that is adjacent to a provincial road, such as rezoning and subdivision of land, township establishment; applications of relaxation of building line from a provincial road and construction of access to a provincial road from the development.

Wayleave
For application for wayleaves – installation of sewer, water pipeline, fibre optic cable, powerline alongside and crossing a provincial road, the applicant should submit the following documents: application letter, complete application forms, locality map of 1: 50 000 (Topo sheet) and/or google map, layout plan, plan details at crossing, plan of cross-section, clearance height plan. Click on the link below for application forms.

Sign Board
Application for erecting an advertisement signboard within the road reserve boundaries of a provincial road should be accompanied by the following documents: application letter, complete application forms, locality map, layout plan of the signboard or detailed engineering drawings of the signboard and coloured copy of the signboard. Click on the link below for application forms.

RAL appointed a panel of consultants and contractors in 2021 for three years ending in 2024. Prospective road construction consultants and contractors will be able to apply to be part of the panel when the current contract expires and there is a new advertisement for a new panel. In addition, they will be required to have been registered on the CSD and CIDB.

Bermuda roads are considered as incomplete roads and RAL plans to have them completed when the budget is made available.