TONGA – The MEC for public works, roads and transport, Ms Dumisile Nhlengethwa, implored Block B residents and those from all parts of the Nkomazi subregion to refrain from burning roads and damaging road signs when they protested.

“The roads which you damage during strikes belong to you, and are for you. When you burn tyres and other stuff on the roads you are only making things difficult for everyone, including yourselves,” she said.

Nhlengethwa and the executive mayor of Nkomazi Local Municipality, Cllr Thulisile Khoza, patched up potholes in Block B and officially opened the D797 in Tonga. The construction of the 13-kilometre road was completed in March and was built on a budget of over R136 million. A total of 166 job opportunities were created for the locals during the construction period.

Nhlengethwa said her department had also seen all the other roads in the subregion which are also riddled with potholes. She added that they would attend to them as soon as the budget to do so was made available.

Community members of both areas welcomed the pothole repairs and the opening of the road. Speaking to Corridor Gazette, community member, Ms Sonto Nkuna, said the road looked beautiful and even went as far as to compare it to the N4.

She said, “If there are people who complain about the road not being good enough, they are really misleading people and clearly don’t know what they want. This road is amazing. I can even freely say it is as good enough or even better than the N4, despite being shorter.”

In 2012 on more than one occasion residents took to the streets protesting against the appalling condition of the D797.