Neglected roads in Glencoe have not been forgotten but a ‘shaky’ municipal grader and financial constraints have prompted the municipality to plead for ‘patience from residents’.
Lwazi Cindi, Technical Services Manager, told the Courier that a meeting with residents from the Emily/Alice and Louisa Street areas – where the roads are all gravel – had ended with a commitment to repair these roads.
“The municipal grader had to first complete scheduled work at the race course in time for the Dundee July and as soon as this was to have finished – last Monday – the machine would have been dispatched to the Glencoe area. Unfortunately, the grader broke down after some bolts loosened and it had to first go to the workshop for repairs.”
Mr Cindi said the grader is ‘old’ and prone to regular breakdowns. However, he committed himself to sending the grader out to Glencoe once the urgent repairs had been done.

The municipality is in the process of purchasing a new grader during this new financial year.
“We know residents in this area have requested that sidewalks be constructed, storm water drainage be put in and roads tarred. However, they should be appreciative of budget constraints and what the costs will be of such projects. Despite this, residents should be assured of our commitment to upgrade their area and ask that they be patient. We are working closely with Ward Councillor, Dr Bedassi, to ensure we do all we can.”
Mr Cindi said services such as sewage are the competency of the Umzinyathi District Municipality, not the local Council. However, he said the municipality was ‘more than willing’ to work with the District Municipality to ensure service delivery is provided.
“The municipality has made a commitment to fast-tracking projects through the “front-loading” of capital funds that would ordinarily be made available in the outer financial years but instead made available at an earlier date.”