SEBOKENG.- Soon, the nightmare of traveling on the Waterdal/Boiketlong Road will be a thing of the past.
This once-dangerous, potholed thoroughfare, notorious for claiming lives, is undergoing resealing following directives and intervention from the Gauteng Province (GP).
The Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) had been unable to address community pleas to fix the road due to financial constraints. The resealing project commenced last week and is expected to last approximately 6 to 8 weeks. However, the project has raised concerns among the nearby community of Boiketlong.
They allege that many of the project’s employees, supposedly selected from the community, were chosen unfairly due to their connections with Ward 36 Councillor, Mpho ‘Fish’ Kolisang.
Government regulations mandate that a certain number or percentage of community members must be employed on such projects, especially those from the ward where the project is taking place.
During a live Current Affairs program on a local radio station, a resident expressed dismay, stating: “The Councillor has appointed all of his comrades from the ANC and his friends. The community was not informed of this project, and we do not know how people came to be employed there. We just saw them working when the project started. Who are they, and where do they come from?”
Kolisang denies the nepotism allegations, asserting that the project initially aimed to recruit 20 labourers but, due to community outcry, an additional 40 were hired, making a total of 60. Additionally, eight SMMEs from Ward 36 were appointed by the contractor.
Motorists, meanwhile, are rejoicing as they benefit from the road’s improvements.
“At long last, we have been complaining about this road, and the municipality was not capable of fixing it. We are delighted that it is being fixed, and many lives and money will be saved,” remarked a pleased motorist.
* The busy Waterdal/Boiketlong Road serves as a vital artery for motorists traveling between Sebokeng, the nearby suburbs of Arconpark and Unitaspark, and the town of Vereeniging.
