SEBOKENG – The dire road condition on Houtkop Road, popularly known as Boiketlong, frustrates motorists.
Every few meters of this tared road is filled with knee-deep potholes, leaving motorists driving in a zigzag, trying to avoid punctures or breakdowns.
On a normal day, about four cars can be seen on the side of the road, with drivers kept busy with changing tires.
Sedibeng Ster took to the streets and spoke to a number of motorists who raised their frustration pertaining to the road conditions on this long stretch of pothole-ridden street.
While many blamed the government for not maintaining the street, a clarion call to start the street from scratch is on every motorist’s lips.
Speaking to the Paper Mzwanele Khoza (34) said the road has claimed many lives and continues to do so, while the government ignores it.
“I’ve been driving on this road for almost a decade now and seen too many traumatic accidents happen. The government doesn’t care about its people. Despite the incidents, no one [both local and provincial government] doesn’t bother to reseal it,” he said.
Nkosazana Mofokeng (40) “This bad road doesn’t need resealing, instead, it needs a proper reconstruction. Even if they reseal it, after one rainfall we will still be faced with the same dire conditions”.
Economic Freedom Fighters Sedibeng Regional Chairperson Isacc Kithika said they are dismayed by the road’s condition.
“We are saddened by the continued deterioration of Boiketlong Road in Sebokeng due to poor maintenance and planning. Boiketlong Road which connects Sebokeng with old Houtkop Road acts as an alternative to residents coming from three Rivers and Vereeniging towards Sebokeng’s Moshoeshoe Road. Driving on that road after rainfall is calling for disaster,” he said.
Kithika said the EFF calls for resealing of the road to avoid a disaster waiting to happen.
“As an organization that continues to advocate for the needs of the people of Emfuleni, we are calling for Boiketlong Road to be prioritized and sealed. Our fighters in Emfuleni will also conduct oversight of all sealed roads to check if the sealing happened and the quality workmanship,” he said.
