Hole in the road, new exhibition in Bethal
The DA’s ward 28 by-election candidate, Ms Terry-Lee Kleynhans has expressed great concern over the state of roads in Bethal.
BETHAL – Ms Ena van Rooyen, DA councillor, was shocked by the devastating state of the roads in the Govan Mbeki municipal area.
“Where have all the roads in Bethal gone?”
She said: “Residents of Bethal are in a proverbial war zone, not dodging land mines, but potholes and half-filled ditches where cable installations were done by GMM and never rehabilitated back to standard. Not to mention the casualties of this ‘war’.
“Serious accidents have already occurred and various vehicles were damaged.”
AfriForum, which is not affiliated with any political party, tried and is still trying to patch things up.
Ms Van Rooyen added that bicycles and scooters are means of transport for vulnerable residents on a pothole ridden road.
“Children using this type of transport to schools, end up with sprained ankles and broken bones.
“Overgrown grass ‘islands’ form in the middle of the road, filling potholes that have clearly gone unnoticed by the ANC-led municipality which has not made any attempt to repair them, can make any onlooker wonder whether they are planning to sell these off as plots.”
During an oversight visit that was conducted by councillors Ena van Rooyen and Banele Nkabinde of the DA, they said it has revealed that the roads in Bethal evidently indicate the characteristics of a municipality with a ruling party that does not care for the health and safety of road users and the residents who they govern.
It appears that many residents are unaware that they are entitled to put in claims for damages to their vehicles as a result of road conditions in municipal areas.
The DA has therefore thought to inform residents of the procedure they can undergo in such circumstances:
1. Take photos of the road surface and get a pin point of the area (this can be done with a maps application on any smart phone) as well as the street name and address where the damage occurred.
2. Take a clear photo of the damage.
3. Get an accident report and case number from the police station.
4. Do a summary on the particulars of the vehicle.
5. Get three quotations of repair work necessary to repair the damaged caused by the municipal neglect.
6. Make copies of all paperwork for your own record keeping.
7. Pick up a claim form from the municipality and submit along with all the above-mentioned paperwork to Govan Mbeki Municipal Assets and Insurance office Room 114 at the Secunda municipal buildings.
