THE AfriForum branch in Pongola claims the prolonged closure of various main town streets leading to the CBD has caused a negative impact on many businesses.
The streets were closed in May this year as the municipality began an upgrade, which was expected to be completed by July this year.
AfriForum Pongola’s Marilda Schoombee said in September they met with the municipality, and officials promised the whole construction would be completed at the end of October this year.
This source within Pongola Municipality alleges the money, meant to pay the service provider to do the job, was re-channeled to do other things.
The KZN Coordinator of AfriForum, Eugene van Aswegen said the civil rights organisation has given the municipality an ultimatum to bring forward an action plan otherwise the organisation will be compelled to submit a complaint to the necessary authorities at provincial and national government level.
Spokesperson for Pongola Municipality, Meshack Mdlalose said they are aware of the delays on the project on Piet Retief and Martin streets in town and this was owing to a number of due different reasons.
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‘The road was found to be beyond repair and the existing layers overlayed, hence we had to start from scratch,’ said Mdlalose.
He said there was also the challenge of a prolonged waiting period for the results of soil tests for both roads.
‘The contractor is back on site and there is a mutual commitment between the municipality and the contractor to complete the project before 30 November.
‘We extend our sincere apologies to our business entrepreneurs, rates payers and the community as a whole for any losses and inconveniences caused. We have good intentions to make our roads more user-friendly to our communities at large,’ he said.
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