---

We would like to thank [former RAL CEO Gabriel Maluleke] for the constructive way he approached the negotiations between him and RAL, leading to the final resolution of the matter, and we wish him well in his future endeavours. - Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure MEC Ernest Rachoene 

---

Sizwe sama Yende

---

Former Roads Agency Limpopo (RAL) CEO, Gabriel Maluleke, has abandoned his litigation against Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure MEC Ernest Rachoene following fruitful negotiations.

Maluleke had been fighting to be reinstated after he was dismissed in December last year and when the RAL board was dissolved.

Despite having been successful in the Polokwane High Court and the Supreme Court of Appeal in his quest to be reinstated, he has however changed his mind.

The department, on the other hand, had been bracing itself to elevate the matter to the Constitutional Court until both parties sat around the table and reached an amicable agreement.

According to a statement released after the out-of-court settlement, Maluleke withdrew his urgent application in the Polokwane High Court, and RAL undertook to contribute to his legal costs to close this matter. 

“In terms of the settlement,” said Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure spokesperson, Emmanuel Mongwe, “Maluleke's employment contract terminated on 31 December 2024, and he leaves RAL with a clean record as RAL agreed to set aside his dismissal and suspension.”

Mongwe said that this “constructive settlement” paved the way for the appointment of the new Board of Directors and a new CEO which would be finalised in due course. 

He said that Rachoene welcomed the developments in the matter.

“We would like to thank Maluleke for the constructive way he approached the negotiations between him and RAL, leading to the final resolution of the matter, and we wish him well in his future endeavours. It also come as a relief that this withdrawal of the application by Maluleke also settles the leave to appeal of the SCA and the Constitutional Court. The Senior Councils of both parties are currently engaging to finalise the details of the settlement," Rachoene said.

The MEC said that the litigation having been pushed aside, RAL would now fully focus on its core mandate to upgrade roads from gravel to tar. 

"This is a victory for all parties involved, as the department and its entity will now focus on making our roads drivable. Reality is that our people are in dire need of services, in the space of roads infrastructure. We really appreciate all parties involved for prioritising our people." 

Having a working RAL helps Rachoene’s ambitious project to fix all the province’s roads. The Dikgeregere Wednesday project, which is championed by Premier Phophi Ramathuba, aims to tar, gravel and blade the province’s rugged roads.

The project is done internally and has proved to create many job opportunities for the youth. Ramathuba has urged Rachoene’s department to invest in essential equipment to enable government to deliver on its own without issuing tenders to private companies.