Community comes together to repair trench on Mulbarton Road in Robindale
After repeated escalations went unanswered, AfriForum joined forces with the residents to repair the 3-year neglected trench.
After years of frustration and unanswered complaints, residents of Robindale joined forces with AfriForum Johannesburg North on the morning of June 13 to repair a deep trench on Mulbarton Road, which had become a symbol of municipal neglect.
Dean James, a resident and member of AfriForum, explained that the trench was dug approximately three years ago. The people who dug it attempted to close it, but failed. “Here we are three years later, after numerous residents burst their tyres going over it. In the evenings, the lights are off, which compounds the issue. We, as AfriForum, decided to get together and make this a whole community event.”
Read more: Trench across road in Cresta is ‘an accident waiting to happen’
The trench had continued to deteriorate despite numerous reports and requests for intervention. The dangerous section of road posed a growing threat to motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians, yet repeated attempts to address the issue received little or no response. “Our main objective here is to meet the neighbours and to show that Afriforum is not a political party. We are here to help grow the community, and to fix what’s been broken for so many years.”
Tired of waiting for action, the community decided to take matters into their own hands. In the early morning hours, residents, alongside AfriForum volunteers, were armed with tools, gravel, and the same goal: To tackle the problem themselves.
Working together, they filled and levelled the trench, improving safety and restoring access along the affected section of Mulbarton Road. Some of the neighbours supplied refreshments and helped co-ordinate the work.
Also read: Joburg Water responds to 2-year delay in repairing Linden trench
The project was more than just a road repair. James explained that it was a statement that communities cannot continue to wait indefinitely while basic infrastructure deteriorates.
Resident Johan Tredoux explained that they had close to twelve reference numbers that were closed, as if the job had been done. “We’re doing it for free for the community. We’re really doing it to help the community. We want to spread it far and wide, so that people can see what’s been done here. We can do much more if we come together.”
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