Potholes have been ‘terrorising’ residents for years, but more recently it has become worse to such an extent that some roads are basically inaccessible. One of the main discussion points at the recent IDP roadshows, hosted by Mayor Khehla Mkhwanazi and ward councillors, was that potholes are an urgent matter that needs to be rectified. The mayor also said it doesn’t help fixing the potholes if they are not going to acknowledge one of the major causes, ie heavy trucks going through town. He urged Public Safety to enforce the by-laws in this regard. The director of Technical Services was instructed to inspect the roads in Vryheid. Even though July 1 is the start of the new financial year, it was said that the issue of roads cannot wait. He indicated that all intersections must be paved; some roads need to be resurfaced, which is a major expense. In the meantime, pothole repairs must be carried out in areas that aren’t as bad. Mkhwanazi indicated that pothole repairs should start on May 13, weather permitting, since fixing potholes when it rains is not sustainable.

Ward Councillor Elaine Rodway commented that, “As the councillor of Ward 8, I stand firmly with our mayor when he says the issue of potholes cannot wait. Mayor Mkhwanazi has rightly pointed out that the weather has caused delays. However, as he correctly stated, the potholes are not a new thing and as a motorist who drives these same roads, I look forward to seeing this project rolled out and completed as quickly and efficiently as possible. I will be monitoring the progress of this undertaking and I urge AbaQulusi Municipality to ensure that our community is kept updated on progress or any challenges that may arise for the full duration of this project. Transparency and open communication is paramount when dealing with matters that affect our citizens. I believe that the mayor has taken a logical and sound approach in acknowledging that fixing potholes without dealing directly with some of the major causes, namely proper drainage systems and heavy trucks coming through town, would be pointless. So I am hopeful that he will get the necessary support from the relevant departments within the municipality to ensure that these issues are also addressed with due haste and proficiency. I have noticed that potholes in some areas are already being attended to, with temporary fixes in the meantime, but these are only temporary. I am confident that implementation of the mayor’s requests – namely paving of intersections, resurfacing of some of the roads where patching is no longer viable, and patching of potholes in the few areas where still possible – will bring about some much-needed and long-overdue relief for motorists who are just as tired of the added wear and tear to their vehicles as I am. Mayor Mkhwanazi has my full support in making this a reality for our residents.”

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The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.