Grievances about state of roads addressed
They say it is high time that a solution is implemented to stop the number of trucks passing through town because they are doing more harm than good.
LYDENBURG – Residents say they are tired of the shocking status of roads in town and they want an immediate intervention.
They say it is high time that a solution is implemented to stop the number of trucks passing through town because they are doing more harm than good.
Angry residents and business owners raised their grievances during a meeting at De Ark Guesthouse on Tuesday night.
Delegates from the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral), Thaba Chweu Municipality (TCM), the provincial department of roads and other speakers addressed the meeting.
Residents made different proposals that could be implemented to improve the state roads. Some suggested that the province should transfer the provincial roads to national ones so that they will not be responsible for maintenance because they are not doing justice for the routes.
Others suggested that the municipality and the provincial department create an alternative road outside town for the trucks for the sake of the economy.
It is said tourists are advised to avoid Lydenburg due to the status of the roads and when they do so, it affects the economy of the town.
When visitors pass through their cars are damaged by the potholes and they are forced to spend more than they had planned or are forced to change their plans.
The business owners fear that before they know it, they will not have customers because tourists are already avoiding Lydenburg.
According to the Mr Eric Johnson, the roads were designed a couple of years ago to carry a certain weight but now the trucks are too heavy.
Residents also raised concerns about the companies hired to fix and maintain the roads. According to Mr Jan Neethling, TCM should consider not hiring companies that are still learning to maintain main roads.
“I believe that people must be given a chance to learn, however, the municipality must let experienced companies to take care of the main streets in town and hire companies with less experience to maintain the other streets,” he said.
According to Sanral representative, Mr Ismail Essa it is true that the town needs an intervention. “I recently passed through Lydenburg and I found about 70 to 80 trucks parked in town on the side of the road,” he said.
“I heard all the proposals that were suggested although we cannot stop the trucks from using the road, if they are licensed and road worthy. We can consider creating a road outside of town, but the community must remember we need time and proper planning. I would suggest that the relevant stakeholders together with our agency have a meeting so that we can see what solutions can be implemented,” he said.
According to Mr Lesley Mokoena, the acting municipal manager of TCM, the municipality is willing to work with the people so that the roads can be fixed. “I am asking company owners and the residents to work with us as the local municipality, we need more companies to join us so that we can improve our town. I agree a lot of things have happened in the past and some happened before I joined TCM, but we cannot focus in the past while we can work together for the sake of our town,” he said.
By the end of the meeting, everyone had agreed that the local municipality, Sanral the relevant stakeholders must have a meeting so that short term and long term goals can be set so that the town can regain its former status. The meeting was an initiative by the Mashishing/Lydenburg Business Chamber, this is one of its projects which it does for the benefit of the town.
