Glencore pitches in with potholes
Over and above this unnecessary financial implication, motorists have to pay thousands of rands for vehicle repairs.
The higher than normal rain experienced over that last few seasons as well as the increased traffic volumes have taken a heavy toll on roads in eMalahleni.
Most often, inadequate drainage creates cracks on the surface of our roads, which widens with passing traffic, resulting in potholes, which affected most of the main roads.
Potholes pose a significant danger to road users, often resulting in severe accidents; as a result thereof our community has to incur significant medical costs for treatment of injuries sustained in accidents.
Over and above this unnecessary financial implication, motorists have to pay thousands of rands for vehicle repairs.
Glencore in consultation with Emalahleni Local Municipality wanted to address the problem by setting up a pothole repair project with the goal of supporting local economic development in communities near our operations.
The pothole repair project kicked off but soon evolved into refurbishment of whole intersections due to the severe degradation of the road surfaces at the intersections.
Pothole repairs would have been superficial and not long lasting. Three intersections that were the most damaged were identified to be refurbished – Vosman intersection in KwaGuqa, the Mandela and Bethal intersection in Model Park, as well as at the intersection of Universe Avenue and Gazel Avenue in Reyno Ridge.
“We believe that refurbishing the whole intersection is the key to keeping repair costs to a minimum and ensuring roads are safe. We are glad to be able to partner with our local municipality; our refurbishment project ran from December 2017 to January 2018, working with a local black owned company called Zedek Trading. The company did a sterling job and we are now proud to call Zedek Trading a service provider to Glencore,” said Noel Pillay, Glencore Coal’s head of regulatory and community affairs.
