Non-functional streetlights and potholes remain a challenge for the city’s residents. They demand that these issues be addressed.

Despite the City of Mbombela’s (CoM) Service Delivery Drive (SDD), that started in March, some of the concerns raised were not attended to. Thea Rix, a local ward councillor, said that while the SDD did play its role, there is still a lot that needs to be done.

“Only three streetlights are working on Samora Machel, despite the new fittings that were recently installed. On the Kaapsehoop Road, only two streetlights are working. On Dr Enos Mabuza Drive all of them are off and Percy Fitzpatrick Drive also only has two working streetlights,” Rix said.

The CoM was aware of the streetlight failures before the SDD. In terms of the potholes, there are countless streets that need to be rebuilt because the repairs do not last long.

ALSO READ: Gatvol kick-starts City of Mbombela’s Service Delivery Drive

“Johanna Drive is a problem. That road needs to be rebuilt, because no matter how many times the municipality has repaired it, it’s not helping. Sering, Alibama, Marula and Trichilia streets; Dr Enos Mabuza and Percy Fitzpatrick drives; and Banket and Koraalboom avenues are of huge concern. The residents are frustrated with this situation, and despite the SDD, and promises that these roads will be fixed, nothing has happened,” Rix said.

ALSO READ: City of Mbombela wants to serve all its residents, municipal manager reiterates

Residents and business owners said they are gatvol with the decaying roads and faulty streetlights in a city where people are paying rates and taxes to the municipality. There is much concern about streets not being lit at nigh, as this attracts criminals and chases potential investors away. The state of the roads is bad, and they want the local government to prioritise it.

Meanwhile, the CoM’s mayor, Cllr Sibongile Makushe-Mazibuko, said the issues that were reported to the municipality will be attended to accordingly.

“During the SDD, we had the municipality attend to the grievances that were listed, as reported by residents to their ward councillors. In all the areas that we attended to, we were led by the ward councillors because they know their areas better. As for the roads that are dilapidated, we do maintain them, but with the constant rains, they do get damaged again. In some areas, a number of heavy vehicles use the road and that is why they get damaged easily,” she said.

Makushe-Mazibuko also said the municipality, within its limited budget, will continue to repair the roads. The streetlight repairs are ongoing, as the CoM has started changing the fittings on some, and the plan is to get all of them working, but it’s not a one-day job.