In the past weeks, the Estcourt News has received three complaints regarding road repairs in the central business district and VQ Section in Wembezi. The first query came via a concerned resident who questioned the duration of the roadworks in Phillip Street near Boxer Superstores.
A portion of the road has a deep dip and has been cordoned off with danger tape. This meant that the road has been narrowed down to one lane, making this busy street quite congested at times, with drivers bending the rules, just to pass through. Umtshezi Municipal Manager Elphas Dladla responded to the residents’ concerns by saying that the repairs to this road involve repairing an Amcor pipe.
“The repairs to the pipe is going on tender. Once this is finalised, the contractor appointed will repair the pipe. We apologise for the inconvenience caused,” commented Mr Dladla. Another concerned Wembezi resident, who asked not to be named, submitted photographs of a deeply damaged section of road in VQ Section. The resident says that this road has remained in a state of neglect for more than six months.
Often a pool of water from a suspected burst pipe, fills the deep crater on this road. “We are asked to save water in light of the water shortage in KwaZulu-Natal and yet the municipality allows this water wastage,” commented the resident. Mr Dladla commented that Uthukela District Municipality and Umtshezi’s civil team have been tasked to conduct an investigation in order to resolve the problem.
In Alfred Street near HMS Hardware a deep crater has formed in the middle of the road. Congestion in this busy street, where a temporary taxi rank is situated, is increased because at this point the road also narrows down to one lane, unless you’re keen on driving into a deep pothole.
A businessowner from this street says that this pothole is a hazard to motorists and pedestrians and foresees dangerous repercussions if it is not repaired soon. Acting Municipal Manager Mr Dladla responded to this concern on Monday, saying that this portion of road repair is within phase two of the Alfred Street road rehabilitation.
“Phase Two is going out on tender where the entire road will be repaired. We apologise for the inconvenience caused,” he added.
