Critical infrastructural needs in Komatipoort receive attention

The Komatipoort Business Chamber (KBC) received an extensive letter from the Nkomazi Local Municipality (NLM) in reply, after it had petitioned to the municipality that it should budget and plan for critical infrastructural provision of the town under integrated development planning (IDP).

After the KBC discovered that the NLM’s IDP publication for public comment was silent about critical needs in the town, the chamber insisted on the tabling of these matters of the budget.

Corridor Gazette was informed that NLM had presented a report to the chamber, which addressed most of the aspects the chamber highlighted. According to Minette du Plessis of the KBC, the chamber appreciated the efforts of the NLM. The budget now provides for road surface treatment, relevant supplies for water provision – in fact, most of the matters raised: electricity, refuse, by-laws, by-law enforcement, and so forth.

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The chamber has returned a letter to NLM requesting more detail, and mentioned some aspects that deserve clarity and definition. The chamber intends to hold a community meeting late in August, with NLM as guest, to discuss the outcome with the residents and businesses. According to the KBC’s Caroline O’Reilly, a matter the chamber had highlighted in the letter in response was the demand by residents for a by-law like Mashishing’s one prohibiting cargo vehicles through town, except with permits.

This springs from the traffic congestions on the N4, border post related cargo traffic and the impact on the town. Inpatient truck drivers skip the queue and via the so-called Ngwenya Road, enter the town from the Crocodile Bridge, often at excessive speeds. The infrastructure has not been designed for this.

Of other matters related to safety, Richard Williams of the chamber said, “We highlighted the need for streetlights and repeated the chamber’s proposal to install technology and assist in monitoring at the key points. Successful prosecution of perpetrators is crucial.”

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Jan Engelbrecht of the KBC said what the municipality does from the budget is critical. The budget is slim, but the equity principle determines that contributors like Komatipoort in an environment like Nkomazi does receive a return from its contributions. “Komatipoort is now considered. The IDP budget is not enough to fix or do all. Where the budget lacks, the community’s contribution becomes important. The City Improvement District model caters for this. This and our own effort. We hope that at the public meeting, it will be clear what NLM can and does offer, and how we can all be part of a better Komatipoort tomorrow.”