Lack of maintenance in Standerton causes roads to decay
The lack of maintenance in Lekwa has caused roads to decay.
Quick fixes and temporary solutions cannot improve the quality of roads in the Lekwa municipal area. Several residential and public roads are in disarray. DA Clr Deon Bekker said he saw this problem coming long ago.
“The largest issue we face today is a lack of maintenance on our roads,” said Bekker.
The Standerton Advertiser went on a mission on July 9 to find the source of the problem. During a drive in town, we identified several problematic areas.
In Coligny Street, sections of the road were removed to lay water pipes. The road was never properly repaired, only patched up with building materials.
“This damages the infrastructure and affects the long-term sustainability of our roads,” explained Bekker.
A particularly bad stretch is at the corner of Krogh and Coligny Streets, where large potholes make the intersection barely accessible.
According to Bekker, potholes occur because of water infiltrating the foundation of the road. He said the municipality does not take road maintenance seriously, causing decay to spread through years of neglect.
Even the town’s CBD area is not up to standard.
The busy Princess Street in the Standerton CBD poses several hazards, including potholes that force drivers to swerve in the narrow road. According to Bekker, this could cause accidents and traffic pile-ups.
“To my knowledge, the municipality does have tar to fix these roads and includes road works in their annual budget. However, the concern grows more pressing each passing day.”
Currently, potholes are being filled with dirt and bricks. However, this is not a long-term solution.
“At the first rainfall or strong wind, the pothole will return to its original state,” said Bekker.
Bekker urged the municipality to take action and prioritise road maintenance in the Lekwa area.
