Polokwane Muni faces backlash over road maintenance in Soetdorings

POLOKWANE – The Polokwane Municipality has responded to growing frustration from residents of Soetdorings and surrounding areas regarding the poor maintenance of gravel roads.

Residents have long expressed dissatisfaction with the state of the roads, which have deteriorated due to rainwater damage, leading to vehicle damage and difficult driving conditions.

Ward councillor Roelof Lourens said he had repeatedly raised the issue with municipal officials, even inviting them to witness the severity of the damage firsthand.

Residents, including Ricolette von Benecke, have proposed hiring independent experts to repair the roads, but the municipality declined, citing its policy of using internal resources to cut costs.

A major point of contention is that while residents continue paying rates and taxes, they feel they are not receiving quality service in return, particularly when it comes to road maintenance.

Municipal spokesperson Thipa Selala explained that maintenance efforts are sometimes delayed due to aging graders, which must be shared across multiple areas.

“Currently, one grader is allocated to serve not only Soetdorings but also surrounding areas, including Palmietfontein, Ivydale Plots, Dalmada, Elmadal, Leeukuil, Tweefontein, Extensions 75, 76, 78, 44, 40, and Disteneng. While this places a significant demand on the equipment, the municipality is actively managing its operational capacity,” he said.

While the municipality confirmed that the Soetdorings road was last graded on Thursday, residents argue that this is not enough to address ongoing deterioration.

According to Selala, road grading is scheduled every two months, but this frequency may change based on road conditions and priority needs.

To improve efficiency and reduce turnaround times, the municipality has recently acquired a new grader, which they hope will enhance road maintenance efforts in the affected areas.