POLOKWANE – Following concerns raised by motorists and residents over deteriorating infrastructure after weeks of heavy rainfall, streets across the city are gradually showing signs of recovery as municipal workers fill potholes and clear overgrown grass.

Potholes that re-emerged after the recent rain prompted complaints from daily commuters, but municipal activity has since been observed in several areas. These include Ladanna, Fauna Park, Ivy Park and Bendor, as well as major routes such as the R71 and the Grobler Street entrance linking the N1 and R101.

Municipal spokesperson Thipa Selala said teams have been deployed across the municipality to address the damage. “Across the municipality, teams are holding the line, tools in hand, cutting back overgrowth and restoring the condition of our roads.”

For many motorists, the work has brought some relief after weeks of navigating hazardous road conditions, particularly in areas such as Witklip, Bulawayo and Pietersburg streets in Ladanna.

“We were dodging potholes every morning. Seeing workers gives us hope, but we want repairs that will last, not something that washes away,” said motorist Vicky Makhubela.

Also read: Residents concerned over Polokwane road repairs after rains

Some motorists believe a permanent solution would require resurfacing entire road sections rather than repeated patchwork repairs.

Pedestrians have also welcomed the grass-cutting operations, especially in areas where overgrowth reduced visibility and raised safety concerns. One such area is Vermikuliet Street, which links Nelson Mandela Drive to Landdros Maré Street.

“I knock off in the afternoon and use the road connecting to the Dendron road daily. The grass was so high you could not see someone coming from the other direction. Cutting it will help a lot,” said Hlompo Papo.

Although the city centre did not experience flooding on the scale seen in previous years, Selala said the extent of road damage across the municipality means repairs will take time. “We kindly ask residents for patience and understanding. All affected areas will be attended to,” he said.