AbaQulusi Local Municipality has officially declared a state of disaster on road infrastructure in Vryheid, conceding that years of deterioration have left the town’s roads beyond repair.

The declaration was made following a recent council meeting, and acknowledges what residents and motorists have been saying for months: potholes continue to widen, road edges are collapsing, and earlier repairs are failing under heavy traffic and persistent rainfall.

Temporary repairs no longer viable

According to the municipality, the extent of the damage can no longer be managed through temporary fixes. Council has resolved that pothole patching is no longer viable and that full road resurfacing is the only sustainable solution. Professional local engineers have been appointed to assess the situation and guide the intervention.

Priority roads identified

Several key routes have been identified as priority roads because of their role in connecting economic, social and service hubs. These include Landdrost Street, Suid Street, Deputasie Street, Utrecht Street and Mark Street, with Hlobane Street and President Street also listed for urgent attention. While these roads will receive immediate focus, the municipality said that road conditions across Vryheid will continue to be monitored as part of a phased-in programme.

Growing public frustration

Public frustration over road conditions has been building for months. As reported in the Vryheid Herald on January 16, motorists have raised safety concerns as potholes worsen across main routes and residential streets. The issue was raised as far back as October at a community meeting hosted by Ward Councillor Magda Viktor, attended by municipal managers, directors, councillors and the mayor. At the meeting, residents were assured that road repairs were a priority.

Councillor responses and criticism

Ward Councillor Elaine Rodway acknowledged residents’ frustration in the January 16 edition of the Vryheid Herald and said that work was ongoing. She said the municipality remained committed to addressing the issue through strategic planning and long-term solutions, adding that the roads department had already been working in affected areas. Rodway also noted that the mayor had raised the possibility of restoring the municipal asphalt plant to improve repair capacity.

Her comments have since drawn criticism from residents. In a letter to the editor, Vryheid resident Neville Lloyd questioned what he described as vague timelines, saying the phrase ‘very near future’ offered little comfort to ratepayers facing rising municipal costs. He said that basic services – including roads, pavements, streetlights and public facilities – were continuing to decline. Rodway has declined to respond to the letter at this stage.

Municipality reiterates commitment

In a statement accompanying the disaster declaration, AbaQulusi Local Municipality said it remains committed to restoring the integrity of its road infrastructure and ensuring safer mobility for residents, businesses and visitors.

For many residents, the declaration brings cautious optimism, with confidence expected to return only once lasting repairs are visible on the ground.

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.