East forum fills potholes on Rubenstein Drive

The Pretoria east community care forum (CCF) embarked on its community upliftment precinct (CUP) initiative by fixing the pothole-ridden Rubenstein Road in Moreleta Park.

Potholes and road cracks were filled on the morning of Wednesday, May 22.

According to the CCF, the initiative was a response to the deteriorating road conditions in the east areas.

The large backlog of unrepaired potholes in the city has sparked a hands-on approach among residents, as they resort to filling these holes themselves as part of the city’s community upliftment precinct initiative.

Filling of potholes other than by the municipality was considered illegal, however now with the new CUP initiative, registered residents and organisations can now fill them.

Founding director of the CCF, Deirdré van Helsdingen, said Rubenstein Drive had many potholes with some cracks on the road.

“The big pothole we fixed was in Jacques Street, Moreleta Park and we managed to fix all the others in Rubenstein Drive and the cracks before they become bigger.”

She said a dedicated team of six members started to fix the potholes from 07:00.

“The CCF’s rule number 1 is safety, so our workers are employed full-time and are covered under the Compensation Commissioner,” she said.

She said the potholes on Rubenstein Drive posed safety concerns.

“I drive there almost every day, and it was unbearable to have to navigate potholes as they damage car tyres and rims,” said Van Helsdingen.

She said residents assisted the CCF by donating R95 to become part of the organisation.

“The funds are utilised for upliftment.”

Van Helsdingen said they received asphalt and bags of tar from MPM Construct in Moreleta Park.

“Adriaan Odendaal, a resident in Moreleta Park from Kopanelo Rails, sponsored us with big amounts to fix potholes.”

She said the CCF trailer was donated by a resident, along with other working materials.

“We are also doing grass cutting, removing weeds and trees growing between the pavement stones and stormwater drains.”

She said she was happy to see the road now fixed as it will be driveable.

Previously mayor Cilliers Brink launched the CUP initiative as a way of working together with residents to rebuild Tshwane.

He said the initiative would assist residents, businesses and communities enter into a formal agreement with the city to maintain and improve public infrastructure within their residential, business and industrial area.

“After obtaining the necessary permission from the city, these services can include planting flowers, cutting grass, painting and repairing pavements, patching potholes.

It should be noted that the CUP initiative is voluntary and is not a transfer of our municipal functions to communities.

The city will continue to render its normal municipal services, such as electricity supply, waste removal, water supply, sanitation, traffic policing, roads and street light maintenance,” said Brink.

“However, we do welcome and encourage all communities in our city to be part of our project that seeks to make our city work for all its residents. It is only through working together that we can achieve our collective goal of building a capital city that we can all be proud of.”

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