Finally, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for the residents of Zoeknog who have been waiting many years for a tar road.
The MEC for public works, roads and transport, Thulasizwe Thomo, conducted a ceremonial sod-turning for the upgrading of 9km of the D3954 and D3958 between Casteel and Zoeknog in Bushbuckridge Local Municipality on August 14.
Keen to prove that he is the right man for the job, Thomo made this promise during his first 100 days in office; that construction of the road would start later this month.
“This milestone marks the beginning of a project that these communities have eagerly awaited. It will create job opportunities and local SMMEs will also benefit. When it comes to the employment of workers, we encourage the contractor to consider locals first, because the project is in their area. We are requesting that the community ensures that the construction runs smoothly without any protest interruptions. The residents are urged to protect the road and refrain from burning tyres on it.”
After waiting many years and living with empty promises from the local government, the community of Zoeknog will soon have a tarred road. The newly appointed MEC announced his commitment to expedite the completion of lagging infrastructure projects.
The community members welcomed the project and said that finally they could see that their endless protests yielded fruit, and they hoped that local businesses and residents would benefit from the road. They also requested transparency regarding the appointment of workers.
