Joubert defends work on Silonque Road
A resident of Phalaborwa is defending the maintenance work done on the Silonque road after an article appeared on the front page of Herald with regard to the state of the road.
Tom Joubert said in a letter to Herald that like all residents in Silonque, he also would like to see a better road and better maintenance.
“We all suffer the same challenge of safety and damage to our vehicles having no alternative but to use this road on a daily basis,” he wrote.
“My concern is the perceptions held by some residents that those responsible for maintenance are not interested and not doing their jobs.
This is simply not true and an injustice to their reputation,” he said.
He said that during the seven months period quoted in the article, lockdown restrictions were in place and no one at Public Works, the responsible entity, was allowed to go to work.
According to him the road was graded by Public Works on 27 July, 19 August and on 3 September.
Also read:Silonque residents demand a better road
He said these dates excludes dates on which the Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality grader also may have done some grading, as was the case on 14 October when a grader was sent but returned because a grader from the Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality was already busy grading the road.
“Most importantly, I believe this to be a good opportunity to acknowledge Edwin Khosa and his team at the Lulekani Public Works offices.
Every time I had any requests or dealings with Mr Khosa, I have been impressed with his amicable disposition and understanding of our frustrations with this road. In my book he is an example to all civil servants, he truly goes out of his way to serve and inform his superiors to find solutions to the challenges this road presents.
“I would also like to appeal to all fair-minded persons to unite against the abuse of this road by some users, especially contractors and visitors it seems, but also some residents, who regularly drive at excessive speeds on this road.
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If all users would be more mindful of their driving habits, we will not have the terrible corrugations within a day of grading.
“Lastly, if Silonque residents can unite, it will be possible to institute a dispute with the Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality to withhold and administer the rates towards getting issues like this road and others matters including security, attended to and sorted out.
That will benefit not only Silonque but all in the greater Ba-Phalaborwa Community by establishing an accountability principle,” he said.
* Letter edited and shortened.
