Ignored potholes is now his livelihood

WHILE motorists plead: “Dear government, may we have a smooth road,” at the sight of the potholes in the roads, Varuti Maluleke from Nkavele village, outside Malamulele sings praises to God as, thanks to these potholes, he will have something to eat at the end of the day.

The 31-year-old man decided to create a job for himself by repairing the potholes on the road to his village, and asking for handouts from motorists in return.

The tarred road is about 3km long. “Sometimes on a lucky day I go home with around R200 in cash from appreciative motorists,” Maluleke explained.

According to him, the main reason he volunteered to fix the roads was to save motorists from causing accidents while trying to avoid potholes.

“This is why I don’t mind if people pass without giving me anything. Those who give me something, do so out of compassion,” he said.

Maluleke said he started fixing the road last year when it became unbearable to drive on this stretch of road due to the terrible potholes.

“I first talked to the chief for permission to patch the road using soil and he agreed. He gave me his support,” he said, adding that some of his income comes from taxi drivers who also appreciate his work.