LIMPOPO – They claim the roads have not been maintained for years.
The road from Louis Trichardt to Madombidzha sees damage to vehicles almost daily, one resident said.
The R522, which falls within the jurisdiction of South African National Roads Agency (Sanral), runs 33 km from Tshikota (Louis Trichardt) to Maebani village (near Tshikwarani) in the Kutama area, and has no fewer than 1 000 potholes, according to local sources.
CV contacted Progress Hlahla, Regional Manager, Sanral Northern Region, who said that these road do not fall under Sanral’s jurisdiction but are provincial roads and that complaints should be referred to the Roads Agency Limpopo (RAL).
The D3751 from Madabani to Tshikwarani used to be a tarred road, but now, motorists have to drive on the side of the road to avoid damage to their cars on what used to be a smooth surface.
A resident in the Kutama area, Muranwa Phaladi recently had an irreparable puncture on his new tyre and had to replace it.
“Whoever is responsible for maintaining this road is out of touch with the local community. We are suffering here. We need to repair the damaged parts on our vehicles all the time. I had to change my front suspension and that is expensive. The Makhado Municipality is doing nothing with the road or they wait for people to die before they repair it.”
The municipality’s Spokesperson, Louis Bobodi said the D3751 falls within the ambit of the provincial Department of Roads.
“We will give this information to them and the community can check with them in terms of an update.”
Kutama Traditional Council’s representative, Gilbert Muofhe said that the council had reported the matter to the MEC multiple times.
“Through the years, we sent countless reports about the sad state of our roads to the Department of Roads but nothing fruitful has been forthcoming,” Muofhe said.
The Council’s latest bid to get the government’s help in repairing the road was in October last year, when the council’s delegation knocked on the MEC’s office in Polokwane yet again.
“We were told that there was no budget for the D3751.
“The saddest part is that our children’s lives will be in danger when they come to visit us.”
Road users along the D3751 feel these roads should be tarred from scratch.
CV made all possible efforts to get comment from the Department of Roads.
No comment had been received by the time of going to print. RAL’s comment will be published in a follow up story.
