Residents demand that the City of Mbombela (CoM) repair the town’s internal roads, which were damaged by the recent heavy rains.

According to residents, the road that connects Shabalala and Nyongane is not usable and despite reporting it to the CoM’s regional offices on several occasions, nothing has been done.

The road is so badly damaged that residents have to leave their vehicles unattended and walk the rest of the way.

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“We are requesting that they temporarily repair the damaged roads, especially the main one that connects the villages and the one to the nearest towns. It has been more than a week since the road has been damaged and nothing has happened. Maybe they want us to protest to show our frustration before they act,” the residents said.

They want the municipality to bring a Caterpillar grader and soil to fill the holes caused by the rain.

They are aware that the CoM will tell them that they don’t have budget to build a new road.

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“If nothing is done in the coming few weeks will take the matter to the streets since this is the language that the municipality understands better. We have funerals and our kids are going to school. Now we need to carry our deceased by hand to the road. Transport for kids cannot access our homes; we are forced to walk them to the main road. We are going to take the matter to the streets,” they said.

The CoM’s spokesperson, Joseph Ngala, was not available for comment by the time of going to press.