MALALANE – A signed petition by Fish Eagle community members, living on the corner of Witkruisarend Street has been ignored.
The petition dated April 25, 2013, is attached to a formally stamped letter of complaint regarding the repair of a damaged portion of road on the street. According to a source, it was submitted twice to the municipality, yet it has never been given any attention.
The letter and petition were addressed to the Nkomazi Municipality’s manager of roads, Mr Elvis Zitha, and were also sent to the municipal manager, Mr Daniel Ngwenya and the executive mayor, Cllr Thulisile Khoza.
Residents outlined their grievances stating that for more than a year nothing has been done to repair the road. According to the letter, the removal of paving bricks has only made matters worse.
“For more than a year now, we have been suffering due to the ever-increasing damage of the road, and we urge you to rectify the problem. It was initially caused by heavy vehicles, delivering materials to the building site. Since then, the damage has been aggravated by the inhabitants of the house who pump huge amounts of water directly onto the road, often in the evening.
It has been aggravated by the department which has at least on two instances, removed the paving bricks from the road and then filled the potholes with sand.
“Each time it rains, the sand washes out and the potholes enlarge and deepen,” read the letter.
Residents requested that the removed paving bricks be returned and said they all wanted to be proud of the street.
On Tuesday afternoon the DA’s
Cllr Mariëtte Preddy, reported the matter to the MMC for infrastructure development, Cllr Million Shongwe, who apparently declined to go and inspect the area.
However, spokesman for the Nkomazi Municipality Mr Cyril Ripinga, said it is not the responsibility of councillors to facilitate the maintenance of roads, as they are responsible for making policy.
“We will investigate the matter. It is, however, unfortunate that it has not been brought to our attention before. I will personally go to inspect it. It is the responsibility of the municipality to maintain and repair roads and we will see to it that this one is fixed,” said Ripinga on Tuesday afternoon.
He also urged residents to report and direct all complaints to the Nkomazi help desk or to him directly.
