Residents fix potholes in Bethal
He took money out of his own pocket and with the help of fellow neighbours and AfriForum, they closed up the potholes.
BETHAL – Longtime resident and known by many in the community, Mr Frans Odendaal, or Oom Frans to some, began an initiative a couple of years ago by going door to door and asking for money from neighbours to contribute towards pothole repairs in Kleynhans Street.
He began this initiative when he basically had enough of the lack of service delivery by Govan Mbeki Municipality that was not maintaining the roads.
He took money out of his own pocket and with the help of fellow neighbours and AfriForum, they closed up the potholes. At first neighbours did not know why Mr Odendaal and his helper were randomly digging up the road and asking for money.
“In 2016 AfriForum began fixing potholes in Kleyhans Street, from the N17 to Malherbe Street, at a cost of R35 000. This consisted of a total repair on all damaged surfaces on that piece of road. Since then Mr Odendaal, who does not like the street where he lives to be full of potholes, goes around door to door and gets money for repairs for the pre-mix we use,” said Mr Hennie Bekker from AfriForum.
“He has been doing this for the past few years with big success, I would say. That is why that street is always relatively nice.
“This is a good community project and initiative and I think it is the way forward for issues like these. I think he is an example on how it can be done,” ended Mr Bekker.
