Tour Around Town by Chamber

MOKOPANE –  The chamber members were accompanied by the municipal departmental representatives who visited the problem areas as reported by the public.

Complaints

• The main road from Polokwane near the Game Breeding Centre has a big pothole in the left-hand lane.

• Hawkers City – Ruiter Rd: this area is in terrible condition. There are a great number of waste bins overflowing with waste. The smell around that area is not suitable for the people selling food, and is a serious health risk. The request is to clean the wastebins, and that Safety and Security look into this matter as well as Water and Sanitation. The trees are being urinated against. There are also complaints of drug dealing. This area must be properly utilised.

• The entrance to Boxer in Nelson Mandela Drive is not safe for the people going to do shopping. The Security Department will look into it.

• There is a person who stays under the bridge in Pretorius Street on the way to the industrial area. He is an illegal squatter and a threat to the people of Soetdoring.

He is also cutting down some indigenous trees and makes fire under the bridge. We are concerned about the safety of workers and the structure of the bridge becaus of his actions. This matter will be attended to.

• Animal waste opposite abattoir: this empty premises is a health risk and a danger because it is falling apart. The Buildings Department will follow up on this issue.

• Corner of Simmentaler and Bonsmara Street: the pavements are used by a granite company as a dumping site. There is an open waterhole since last year, with lots of rubbish on the opposite side of the road. This is dangerous because it is so overgrown. There is also a tree on the corner which causes a problem with visibility from Bonsmara Street.

• Sewage spillage and water leakage under the bridge in Dudu Madisha Street. A lot of water is spilling from a pipe. There is also sewage spillage in the river.

• Taylor Street: the open erven at the corner of Taylor and Van Riebeeck Street is very unsafe. There are complaints from the community that people are being raped and robbed in the bushes. The chamber requested the municipality to clean the stand, so that there is no place for criminals to hide.

• Ext 19: there is a lot of waste in the open land and lots of cattle walking freely in this area. The waste is a health risk and the cattle a danger to motorists. Traffic and Security will look at the problem and make sure these cattle will be taken to the pound. If there are streetlights in that area, it will be safer for workers going home. There are hundreds of workers using the road daily to and from work. It is a very dark area after sunset.

• Corner of Van Riebeeck and Van Heerden Street is a stormwater drain that has collapsed and is causing a danger.

• At Silver Palms there is a water leakage and repair work that was not completed. Lots of material used to repair is still on the pavements.

• At the Post Office there is a big hole in the road, which has been there since last year. This can cause accidents and is a danger at night, because it is not marked clearly.

• Corner of Van Riebeeck Street and Ruiter Road. Lots of money was paid to pave that area for trucks turning there. Since December there is a problem and it causes problems with the traffic. Trucks use the right-hand lane and turn to the left. People unaware of this problem keep on driving in the left-hand lane, and then all of a sudden realise that a truck is trying to turn to the left in front of them. This is a very busy and dangerous corner.

• The stormwater drain at the corner of Hooge and Van Riebeeck Street at the IEC building is also a problem.

• There is a request that the bulk waste bins in Hooge Street on the pavement opposite Spar must be cleaned daily. It is overflowing with rubbish and is a health risk. The pavement where these bins are is in a terrible condition and must be looked at.

• The old Stadium, Fourie Street: this building is not only in a bad and dangerous condition. People use this for illegal activities and then make a big noise. The condition inside the building is terrible. This building is on the list for the Tour Around Town since the tour began.

• The old swimming pool on the premises of the Department of Public Works: this has been a problem for the past few years. It is a dangerous place where the learners of Mokopane Primary School play after school while waiting for transport. There are also incidents of learners using the

stones to throw at vehicles passing by.

The municipality must engage with the Department of Public Works and ensure the area is safe, by either putting up a fence or demolishing and cleaning the area.

• Corner of Thabo Mbeki and Geyser Streets. There is no fence between the main entrance to the town and the Department of Public Works premises. The pavement is in a poor condition and stormwater drains (five of them) are damaged.

• The pavements are in a bad and condition in Totius Street at the Waterberg FET College. The students are using the road to walk in. It is a dangerous situation because of pedestrians using the road as one turns into Totius Street from Thabo Mbeki Street.

• At the corner of Totius and Hooge Street three stormwater drains are broken.

• The old tennis courts at the Van van Rensburg Hall are in a poor condition. The chamber suggests the area be cleaned and the municipality can then invite schools in the outlying areas to make use of the courts for training purposes.

• Fourie Street: there are grass and trees growing in the street. The pavement is not even visible.

• Empty stand in Park Street: the empty stand is a property of the municipality that is used as a dumping site by the people in the area. The municipality is requested to clean the stand; people will not dump rubbish on a clean stand.

• The surface of Koper Street is in even worse condition than on previous tours. Promises of resealing are made on every tour.

• New area in Chroom Park (Nylpark) where the old airfield was is in a terrible condition. Those on the tour went into Lleka Lekalakala Street and saw trees and grass growing in the road, water leakages and open stands where the electricity boxes were vandalised.

This is the latest development of the town and the tar roads looks as if it is one of the oldest developments.

• Water leakage at a stand in Kruger Street: it seems to be from the swimming pool of the resident. It is suggested that the resident be contacted and informed of the problem.