GMM budgeted R20m for roads, says MMC
Thandi Ngxonono said the refilling of roads is a means to repair the most critical ones.
The Govan Mbeki Municipality (GMM) MMC for Civil Engineering, Thandi Ngxonono, told Ward 12 residents that R20m was budgeted for fixing critical roads within the municipality.
Ngxonono said this during the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) review meeting held at Ext 18, eMbalenhle, on September 25.
The municipality reviews the plan annually, with planned projects linked to the municipality’s budget. It also indicates progress with the identified projects of the previous year.
Once the plan has been compiled, public participation takes place. These meetings allow residents to highlight the developments needed in their wards.
“In all our IDP meetings, residents raised roads as a priority to be fixed, not only in Ward 12 but the whole municipality.
“We have a road project where we are refilling the roads. The tar used for this makes it look like the road is solid, but it is not.”
Ngxonono said the refilling of roads is a means to repair the most critical ones. A meeting with councillors will help to identify these roads.
She said there are ‘construction mafias’ who target contractors appointed to do projects. According to Ngxonono, these mafias demand money from contractors.
“We request that it must not happen here. People should work so that when they get paid; they know they worked for that money.
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“We are also appealing to the community not to stop projects because of a misunderstanding with a contractor. You must report it to us to resolve it.
“Don’t harass those contractors when they arrive. Rather, be willing to get an opportunity to learn,” said Ngxonono.
Residents complained in the IDP about sewage spills that damaged roads and asked the municipality to prioritise the sewer network.
Ngxonono said there are two sewer projects in eMbalenhle Ext 5 and at the waste water treatment works, aimed at addressing the sewage challenges.
She said the Ext 5 sewer project is big, and the municipality is working on it with the Gert Sibande District Municipality.
“Once the consultant for the project is appointed, the contractor will also be appointed for that project.
“At the Ward 9 Waste Water Treatment Works project, the contractor and consultant were appointed. The contractor is on site.
“As the municipality, we become happy when there are projects in our community because they create jobs for our unemployed residents,” said Ngxonono.