Residents of eMbalenhle’s Ext 11 repair their own main road to show GMM how things are done
"We don't need any more campaigns, because campaigns are only for a photoshoot and public relations purpose. We are pushing for real service delivery, including maintenance. We hope they will learn from us and not politicise what we are doing," said Mr Sibande.
eMBALENHLE – Extension 11 community rolled up their sleeves and began to repair their paved main road themselves.
The road is in dire need of maintenance.
Residents said if they just fold their arms and do nothing, it will be over with their main road.
Its paved bricks are falling apart because of the underlying soil that is eroding when it rains.
“We realised that our municipality is having a capacity challenge.
“That is why we decided to fix our road because it is not used by the municipality but by us.
“We are removing paving bricks so that we can first fill up the road with ash and then repave it. We have skills to do this,” said Mr Phindile Sibande.
Residents said they want to remind the municipality that every infrastructure must be maintained if you want to last for a longer period.
They believe the Govan Mbeki Municipality cannot maintain this road because GMM cannot even look after their access road next to the municipal offices in the area. That road is inaccessible when it rains.
“Our municipality is reactive because roads are only fixed when there are funerals, but only after the bereaved families request for their road to be fixed so that vehicles can take mourners to the graveyard.
Other than that, roads remain unmaintained,” said Mr Sibande.
Residents want to change that by doing things themselves.
They claim the municipality is run by people who are incapable of bringing services to the people.
They said many directors of Govan Mbeki Municipality do not even know extensions of eMbalenhle, but are responsible for municipal infrastructure paper.
“We don’t need any more campaigns, because campaigns are only for a photoshoot and public relations purpose. We are pushing for real service delivery, including maintenance. We hope they will learn from us and not politicise what we are doing,” said Mr Sibande.
According to him, the residents are promoting sustainability and maintenance, as it will assist them and their municipality.
