POLOKWANE – Potholes in and around the city have sprung up like mushrooms, with existing potholes just getting bigger and deeper, and not being repaired.
To add to this problem, it would appear that the municipality’s road repairs section came to a standstill over the festive season. This, during the rainy season and a time when there were many visitors to the city.
Several motorists complained that their vehicles had sustained damage while going through potholes, which were not easy to see when it was raining. Other motorists said they had reported various potholes to the municipality prior to the beginning of the festive season last year, yet nothing had been done to repair them.
One of the complainants, Johan Burger, who resides along the Soetdorings road said the potholes had become life threatening to motorbike riders like him. “I drive along the Makhado road daily and was almost involved in a serious accident over the past week because of the huge potholes on this stretch of road,” he said, adding that it was impossible to miss this pothole, which was over a metre wide.
Municipal spokesperson, Tidimalo Chuene said the municipality was not ignoring the plight of motorists.
“The municipality is conducting inspections to estimate the quantity of potholes incurred during the rainy season. Areas in which there are a high number of defects and high traffic volume are prioritised and repair teams are deployed promptly,” she claimed.
She added that in certain areas such as the central business district, where traffic congestion was high, it was difficult to access the road for repairs and repairs had to be made over weekends. “The teams are deployed specifically to perform patchwork as an emergency relief,” she explained.
Potholes and other damage to roads can be reported to the municipal roads and stormwater section at (015) 290 2095/2372/3, or to the office on the corner of Woodbush and Vermikuliet streets where there is a complaints register.
