Company takes complaints to Zuma
'We have lost thousands of rands due to the state of the roads in Aureus'
A company that has been operating in Aureus for 30 years has taken their complaints about the terrible roads to the top.
Wayne Roselt, Supra Trusses‘ manager first reported the company’s complaints about the roads and lack of storm-water drains to B Nkanbule, director of Roads and Infrastructure.
“I waited for weeks for a reply but the email was not even opened or read. I decided to take it to the top, and who is higher than president Jacob Zuma?” Roselt said.
Roselt explained, “Supra Trusses has lost thousands of rands due to the state of the roads in Aureus.
“So many of our trucks’ tyres have had to be replaced due to the potholes in Steyr Street. We now buy them in bulk. We also have been fined by Metro Police for damaged tyres, leading to further losses to the company. Our main concern is the customers we are losing daily. They refuse to travel to Randfontein because of the roads and it is costing the company thousands of rands,” Roselt said.
He believes the lack of storm-water drainage systems is the main cause of the problem.
“The water accumulates in front of our offices because of the bend and even has flooded the reception area, causing thousands of rands’ damage to electrical equipment, furniture and the floors,” Roselt added.
In a previous herald article in March 2014, a resident suggested the roads in Randfontein be resurfaced.
Lucky Chiya, local municipal spokesperson responded, saying it would cost the municipality millions to resurface all the roads and the funds just weren’t there. He said the patch-and-go system was used as an immediate mechanism to try and avert the problem and all the potholes were supposed to have been addressed by the end of April 2014.
Evidently the municipality’s plan did not work and potholes are appearing quicker than the one appointed truck and team can fix.
Nonetheless, the president’s office has replied to Roselt’s email, stating they will forward the email back to the Randfontein Local Municipality.
“It is very discouraging to think that our complaints have reached a full circle now with no answers given and no end in sight to our road problems,” Roselt said.
Roselt’s original letter sent to the municipality and president Jacob Zuma:
Subject: Roads, Storm water & Infrastructure Problems: Randfontein Local Municipality: OFFICIAL COMPLAINT
Addressee:
The Office of the President of the Republic of South Africa.
Union Buildings
Private Bag X1000,
Pretoria,
0001
Dear Honourable Mr J Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa:
Mr President, may I present an electronic mail that was sent to the office of Randfontein Local Municipality.
This letter was duly addressed to:
The Directorate: Infrastructure.
Mr B. Nkambule
Cc: Chantelle Heinz
& Care of: Cllr. Mzi Khumalo
Our company, Rooftile & Supra Trusses has been servicing the public and the residents of South Africa for more than 30 years.
In Aureus (RANDFONTEIN) (and especially Steyr Street) the roads are in a serious dilapidated state. We (and many other factories and companies in the area) make use of this and other roads in and around the Randfontein CBD.
With every rainfall, the roads are less usable and additional potholes come up everywhere. This creates a problem for many people (especially our clients) using the roads and our truck tyres that gets damaged; resulting in loss of income and additional costs for running our pristine company.
The last damages (we occurred in using the roads) resulted in our company being fined by the Metro Police Department for tyres not being road-worthy. This in turn increases our costs; in terms of replacing damaged tyres, paying additional fines, etc.
We ask if it be possible; that someone in a senior position afford us the assistance to get the roads back to a usable and maintainable standard.
In regards to storm-water; we have incurred additional damages to our offices infrastructure, furniture and electronic components. A major incident occurred as a result of last week Fridays’ rain. This is a reoccurring problem that needs your urgent support and assistance.
Being situated close to a street corner (bend); all the rain water from the street gets flushed into our property and as a result; we suffer from the damaging effects.
It should have been a priority from Infrastructure development to establish storm-water drains in a developed area; especially where there are several factories and companies.
The roads in and around Randfontein needs urgent consideration, and one can suggest to start addressing this issue; if one may be able to address infrastructure development in terms of moving or channelling storm water.
The core values and mission of the Municipality is:
“Through mobilising communities towards quality shared services delivery, thereby facilitating a sustainable and prosperous society based on agriculture, infrastructure, investment, manufacturing and mineral beneficiation.”
And to be:“Pro-active and responsive to the requirements of our clients and innovative and forward-thinking in all service delivery solutions.”
I trust that you may find the aforementioned to be in order and satisfactory.
I also look forward to your anticipated response in due time. Please do not hesitate in contacting me for any assistance.
Most Respectfully, Mr W Roselt.
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