Pensioners declare war on potholes

Complaining only goes so far, especially in the war against potholes … People complain on a regular basis, especially since these holes seem to be multiplying daily around town. Certain streets in residential areas are covered in ‘gaping craters’ that force drivers to swerve onto the ‘wrong side of the road’. One particular victim of this phenomenon is Park Street at New Republic School’s sports grounds. It is impossible to drive along that stretch of road without hitting a ‘predatory’ pothole lying in wait to damage a car tyre. While one of the Vryheid Herald journalists was driving around town, she stumbled upon two pensioners at the corner of Wes and Suid Street, taking matters into their own hands and filling up holes in the road surface. While the journalist talked to them, several motorists stopped to commend these two men on their selfless act towards the community.

Callie Venter and Gerhard Potgieter said they don’t fill up the holes to get recognition, but rather want to guarantee safety for motorists when driving along these roads. They continued to say that they are pensioners and therefore have the time to do this after their morning cycle. What they don’t have is the funds for loose gravel to fill up the holes properly. At this stage, they are using sand, even though they realise it is only a temporary solution to the continuing problem. “We have to do something! We, as a community, have to stand together to fix the town ourselves. We can’t wait for the municipality to fill up the potholes, because it will take forever,” they explained. They have been seen in other areas as well, busy in the relentless heat with the task at hand.

These two ‘youngsters’ have lots of energy and are seen regularly going for their morning ride on their bicycles. They boast that they are still capable of hard physical work and are doing this for the love of their beloved Vryheid. Donations to help close the potholes are welcome.
Municipal workers have been seen fixing potholes around town as well, and a programme has been launched to actively fill up these craters. Read more on page 2 about ‘Pothole Thursdays’.

ALSO READ: VRYHEID KZN: What happened to the fixing of potholes?

The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.

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