Malende residents’ long-standing plea for road upgrade ignored
Despite being a crucial pathway for school pupils and workers in Malende, the local community's plea for road upgrades has been overlooked for years, leaving them vulnerable to crime and accessibility issues
Residents of Malende and New Groutville are in desperate need of an upgrade to a road linking the two areas.
The road is primarily used by school pupils and workers commuting from Malende to catch a taxi in Etete or to access the Umfolozi TVET College on the R102.
Their plea for an upgrade dates back years. They even wrote to the presidency in 2019, only to be referred to the Department of Cooperative Governance (Cogta).
At that time, Dr Zweli Mkhize was the minister and Cogta did confirm receipt of the letter but since then no further communication has been received.
Resident Themba Khumalo said despite the road being neglected, it is still used daily. Without upgrades, however, it has become a crime hotspot with criminals waiting in the heavily overgrown roadside to rob vulnerable workers.
“If the road was upgraded, taxis would be able to use it, making the lives of people working in Ballito and Salt Rock much easier,” said Khumalo.
Another resident, Fox Mthembu, said the road was previously a main route, whether crossing from Etete or New Groutville to Malende.
“For someone of my age, it becomes difficult as we are forced to transport our groceries in wheelbarrows. When it rains, it becomes a challenge because the low-level bridge becomes flooded,” said Mthembu.
Ward nine councillor Nkitimen Mpanza agreed the road needed an urgent upgrade.
“We must address this issue especially considering the increasing number of houses. It is something that I will attend to. I will need to compose another letter, including signatures from the residents in that area, to the relevant departments. However, it must be noted that no one had brought this issue to my attention before,” said Mpanza.
Cogta had not responded at the time of going to print.
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