In eMalahleni there are more than 700km of tarred roads and a further 700km of gravel roads of which 70% are in a bad condition.
“The recent heavy rains and continuous pipe bursts have finally caught up with the city and despite the programmes we set in place, the problem has become bigger than we can handle,” said the city’s administrator Mr Theo van Vuuren.
He said support from the community to address this would be needed if they are to restore the roads and buy time to gear funding for large scale upgrading and rehabilitation.
“However, it is important that what we do will last and therefore the municipality will make technical expertise available to any group who wants to assist in repairing potholes. Likewise there are various initiatives and programmes and we need to act in a coordinated manner to achieve the maximum affect. In this respect the Department of Roads and Storm Water in the municipality will be playing a coordinating role,” Van Vuuren added.
He said he is pleased by the positive and proactive support from the community and specifically WITBANK NEWS in this respect. Together we will make a difference.
Nkangala District Municipality started patching and resealing the gaping holes on the Old Middelburg road running towards the N4. This road has a hefty price tag of R17-million.
Priority areas around hospitals, schools and collector roads are also receiving much needed attention with the patching of 20 000m².
Kriel Mine has come onboard and they are patching potholes in Ga-Nala (former Kriel).
R27-million has been allocated through the Municipal Infrastructure Grant funding (MIG) to reconstruct roads in Hlalanikahle, Klarinet, Empumelelweni, Kwa Mthunzini VilakaziKwa, Thomas Mahlanguville and Kwa Guqa Ext 9.
Timbercity/Pennypinchers Witbank is not only your one stop hardware and building retailer, but also gives back to the community through various donations and sponsorships.
Their latest project will be to help the community, businesses and schools with the pothole epidemic that is escalating in our city.
Timbercity purchased 500 bags of cold asphalt and will sell this at cost while stocks last.
If there is a need for more bags, they will purchase more and keep the price at cost as the demand for cold asphalt increases.
Timbercity urges all of eMalahleni to please make use of this offer and to please help mend the city bit by bit.
The cold asphalt will be sold at R55 per 25kg bag. There are also hand-held compactors available to help compact cold asphalt in the potholes.
For more about this project contact Amanda Botha or Zita Goldswain at the WITBANK NEWS: 013 656 2490 or e-mail them on amanda@witbanknews.co.za or zita@witbanknews.co.za.
