Sasolburg, Free State - Sasol is investing in significant infrastructure upgrades in the Metsimaholo Local Municipality to improve road infrastructure and enhance community safety in Sasolburg and Zamdela through effective streetlighting.

In delivering on its promise to society, to be a catalyst for positive change that drives shared socio-economic value, Sasol implements a range of social impact programmes. The Roads Rehabilitation and Repair Programme responds directly to concerns identified in Sasol’s 2024 baseline study, which found that road quality is the most pressing infrastructure challenge in Metsimaholo.

According to Ms Gao Mothoagae, Sasol Vice President: Corporate Social Investment and Sasol Foundation, the company has invested more than R54,6 million in critical road repairs in Metsimaholo between 2021 and 2026, but significant needs remain. “This programme marks a shift from once-off, ad hoc repairs to a more structured, multi-year rehabilitation approach that supports longer-term impact. The focus is not only on addressing existing damage, but also on preventative maintenance that helps extend the lifespan of the roads,” she said.

The current programme will run until June 2027. To date, around 40 km of roads have already been repaired, including:

• Sasolburg Marathon Route – 21,1 km pothole repairs
• Sasol peripheral roads – 14 km pothole repairs
• Hospital Road – rehabilitation of 200 m dual carriageway
• Bergius Road – 1 km rehabilitation
• Somerspost (east section) – 1 km rehabilitation and fog spray seal
• Zamdela Cemetery Road – 500 m reconstruction

From a safety perspective, better roads support safer travel, fewer accidents and less damage to vehicles. They also improve access to essential services such as healthcare, education and emergency response, directly affecting people’s quality of life. From an economic perspective, reliable road infrastructure supports local businesses, logistics and commuting, which in turn can encourage investment and job creation.

In addition, Sasol is using this programme to support local economic empowerment. A B-BBEE service provider was appointed, with emphasis on local companies identified through platforms such as the Linkage platform and the local business forum. The programme also creates job and skills development opportunities for local beneficiaries, including young people who have participated in the Sasol’s Bridge to Work programme.

In response to rising safety concerns and crime trends in Metsimaholo, Sasol is improving streetlighting through the replacement of faulty high-pressure sodium streetlights with energy-efficient solar LED units on existing poles, as well as the installation of new poles and solar streetlights in high-risk, poorly lit areas where infrastructure is non-functional or absent. To date, 116 lights have been installed on DF Malan Road, 16 near Fezi Ngubentombi District Hospital, seven at the fountain circle at the entrance to Sasolburg, and 18 lights with poles in Zamdela.

The road and streetlighting projects form part of one of Sasol’s corporate social investment focus areas: improving access to sustainable, quality community infrastructure through strategic partnerships.

Visit society.sasol.com to learn more about Sasol’s social impact initiatives.