LIMPOPO – Thousands of villagers and road users were affected by the closure of the D3715, D959 and R522 and N1 entrance to Louis Trichardt last Monday and Tuesday after residents had barricaded the roads.
Residents of Sinthumule, Kutama and Tshikota who participated in the strike said that they had closed the roads as they want government to honour their promise for an inland main road.
Residents demanded that phase two of the D3715 from Madodonga be rehabilitated, and the shortage of water and poor electricity to their villages be addressed as a matter of urgency.
The chairperson of the Zoutpansberg Community Development Forum (ZCDF), Patrick Sikhutshi said they have had enough empty promises from Public Works to rehabilitate the road since 2022 and the Makhado Municipality when it came to issues of service delivery.
“Every time Public Works officials promise to rehabilitate the road, which stretches 8,1km from Madaodonga to Tshikhodobo, but we have not really noticed any improvement in our area.
“Taxi and bus owners are tired of having their minibuses run along this road as it causes wear and tear on their vehicles in a matter of a few weeks. It is difficult to drive on this road when it has rained. We need a proper road here.”
Regarding the water and electricity issues, Spokesperson for the Makhado Municipality Louis Bobodi said water queries should be directed to the Vhembe District Municipality.
“The municipality’s role is to engage the relevant departments on issues that have been raised by the communities. Water provision falls under district municipalities. It is our duty to listen to all these issues and make sure we escalate them to the relevant departments,” he said.
