Potholes in GMM pose danger to motorists
Potholes that were once as small as the palm of one’s hand now take over the roads, leaving motorists no choice but to swerve out the way or even worse, driving through it, causing damage to rims, shocks and alignment.
With heavy rains, everyday more and more potholes surface and are tell-tale signs of poor roads infrastructure.
Potholes that were once as small as the palm of one’s hand now take over the roads, leaving motorists no choice but to swerve out the way or even worse, driving through it, causing damage to rims, shocks and alignment.
The question raised is that if Govan Mbeki Municipality had focused on the dilapidating state of our roads prior to the rainy season, then none of the roads would currently be in such a bad state.
To some it appears that GMM has become more reliant on organisations and residents when it comes to fixing potholes.
The recent Bethal Mall opening raised eyebrows because there is no way to access the mall without going down roads that had once been tarred but are now gravel.
These roads are barely usable with a normal vehicle.
There is not a town in the Govan Mbeki municipal area that does not have potholes.
In a meeting held with the media and GMM’s executive mayor, Mr Nhlakanipho Zuma, on Friday, December 3, Mr Zuma said the they do not have the equipment to do the actual work of road construction.
“We have had serious neglect of our infrastructure for the longest of time. To revamp it will take time.
“GMM currently has more than 807km of roads of which 555km is tared roads. Maintenance of such will require an enormous budget.”
He said GMM has partnered with Gert Sibande District Municipality in a quest to resurface all tared roads. This take a couple of years.
“We are currently looking for funds with various institutions at a national level and there are certain commitments. If these realise, we would be able to cover those,” said Mr Zuma.
He said the municipality has budgeted for filling up potholes.
“We will begin very soon. As soon as we have finalised our service level agreement with the district municipality again to do certain streets.”
Mr Zuma said certain streets will have to be re-done by removing the top portion of the road and then it will have to be re-tarred.
He said it does not help to close potholes because not long after one is closed another emerges next to it.
“Most of our roads are no longer in the state where we can just fill up a pothole. We want to start a program where we can remove most of the top parts of the road and replace it with new ones.
“We are hopeful that we will get recourses so that we can respond and react as quick as possible.”
He said with regards to the roads leading to the new Bethal Mall, council has a prerogative to identify specific roads that need to be targeted of which this one “might” be one of them.
This will be presented to council and hopefully be resolved soon.
