WATCH: Auret Road residents ‘holey’ dissatisfied with city’s inaction

‘Gatvol’ of the City of Ekurhuleni’s ‘slapgat’ response to the deteriorating road conditions of Auret Road, Brentwood Park, residents are weighing up their options to take matters into their own hands.

Navigating around 350 trenches along the 700m stretch of road, residents gathered on the corners of Auret and High roads on April 26 to vent their frustrations to Ward 23 Clr Gerald Goslin.

While some walked the beleaguered road armed only with Wellington boots, others demonstrated their treacherous daily commute from the confines of their vehicles.

“About 450 ratepayers from nine complexes travel along this road daily,” said Melanie Ware, a resident of the area for eight years.

“It is easier to drive on the moon than driving along Auret Road. Our vehicles are suffering damage and elderly residents of Brentwood Villas have become prisoners in their homes, out of fear of having to travel on this road. Why are our continued complaints being ignored?”

Addressing the crowd of nearly 50 strong, Goslin said he was now in possession of the ‘hook’ which would ultimately hold MMC for Roads and Transport, Andile Mngwevu, accountable for addressing the matter.

Pandemic
“I realise this is not the answer you are hoping for, however, during the council meeting on April 24, Mngwevu supplied us with answers to questions I posed regarding the collapse of this road,” said Goslin.

“These responses, received in writing, now hold the MMC accountable for not addressing this matter with due urgency, thus giving us the means to apply pressure.”

Mangwevu’s response indicated the reconstruction of Auret Road was on the city’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP) during the 2018/19 financial year and had an associated budget of R13m attached to the project.

The project would have included the installation of stormwater infrastructure and a redesign of the road.

During the 2019/20 financial year, the allocated budget was R4m but later adjusted to R400 000, of which R399 150 they spent on the project’s design during this time.

“The city informed the department the budget adjustment was because of the Covid-19 pandemic,” wrote Mangwevu.

“The current 2024/25 budget for the project is R500 000.”

He further stated a contractor, Airfield Jv, was appointed in 2019/2020, but the city withdrew the appointment for three months because of the pandemic.

“They again withdrew the appointment of a contractor for a further three months and to date not reinstated the project because of insufficient budget allocation,” he said.

Laughable
Disbelief echoed through the crowd as residents became vocal about their dissatisfaction.

“We have been fighting this battle since 2016,” said one disgruntled resident.

“Having spent countless hours writing grievances and petitions and ploughed thousands of rands into buying our own materials to fill potholes.

“We have exhausted every possible avenue, only for them to say they only have R500 000 to tackle this mammoth task. It is laughable!”

Resident, community leader and one member who has actively worked to fill potholes, Sean Turck said he has taken it upon himself to investigate options and costs relating to having the road rehabilitated, privately.

“The problem goes beyond the road surface,” he said.

“Because of the lack of stormwater infrastructure, all our efforts to fill potholes are futile unless the necessary systems are in place. The road surface has washed away.

“With this come other issues. Emergency vehicles cannot access properties, such as the retirement village, to provide life-saving treatment.”

By the book
According to Turck, it would cost R3.1m to have the road paved and gullies installed.

“I grew up in the townships and it is embarrassing to live in the suburbs where our roads are nothing but gaping holes,” said another resident.

“Township roads are in immaculate condition, yet our rates and taxes cannot be used to fix our roads.

“Perhaps we need to up our game and force these politicians wasting our money to listen to us.”

Calling for calm, Goslin said that he would attempt to set up an appointment with the MMC’s office by no later than the middle of May.

“I understand your frustration but we need to approach every process by the book,” he said.

“I will inform all residents of the scheduled meeting as soon as they have confirmed it. I urge you all to be there. We need power in numbers; your voices need to be heard.”

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