The R28 connects Krugersdorp and Randfontein, and countless motorists use it every week.
For months, one of the main intersections on this road, located at the entrance to West Village, has been without electricity. The traffic lights and surrounding streetlights, however, may not be turned on again any time soon.
The problem stems from a dispute between the Mogale City Local Municipality (MCLM) and C&G Engineering Services. The latter is a privately owned company which had taken over certain services in the area years ago because the MCLM, supposedly, couldn’t service them effectively.
The News contacted C&G and they responded with a press release, stating that, “Certain of the areas falling under the jurisdiction of the MCLM have long experienced delayed or substandard service delivery. As a result of this, various private entities, one of which being C&G, have stepped up to deliver critical services on the municipality’s behalf.”
This arrangement has been in place for about 15 years, “… with C&G delivering services and the municipality compensating it for services rendered, each party keeping to their end of the arrangement for the benefit of the entire community.
“The fact of the matter is that the MCLM has reneged on their part of an agreement that has existed for almost two decades and has refused to make payment for services rendered from as long ago as 2017. The municipality is steadfast in their denial that any critical services are being rendered despite having received the benefit of the said services.”
C&G claimed that the MCLM now owes them more than R2 million, accumulated over a period of almost four years.
Understandably so, C&G has stopped its power supply to certain areas until such time that a satisfying agreement is reached between the two parties.
Meanwhile, the News receives regular updates from West Village resident and community figure John Barnardt about numerous serious accidents at this very intersection. It’s safe to assume that the intersection is now a high-risk accident zone, especially at night.
The MCLM has been contacted for comment. When this article was written, the News had been awaiting response from the municipality for seven days already.
