Promises remain empty as streets crumble

Hopes were high in Eltivillas in Makhado (Louis Trichardt) last year in May. After all, on the eve of the election, they had a visit from none other than the Limpopo premier, and many promises were made to secure a vote in favour of the ruling party.

One of the major concerns in Eltivillas had been the dilapidated condition of the streets ... and dilapidated it remains.

“They cannot say that they do not know. We provided the premier, as well as the elected ward councillor, with a full list of our requirements. These included the conditions of the streets, as well as street bumps to secure the safety of our pedestrians,” an Eltivillas resident, who preferred to stay anonymous, said on Monday. 

“We haven’t seen any real change yet. We are very disappointed,” said Mr Dave Patel.

Considering the long years of seeing the deterioration grow worse, it is no wonder that many residents are disillusioned.

In May 2008, the Makhado municipal spokesperson, Mr Louis Bobodi, said that he believed that the resurfacing of the Eltivillas streets would be done by June that year. By December 2009, businessman Mr Nizam Aboobaker from Easybuild expressed his concern about the negative impact that the disintegrated roads had on business. At the time, Bobodi said that the municipality’s budget did not make provision for the rehabilitation of these roads. In the beginning of 2010, the municipality still could not give a time frame for the rehabilitation of the Eltivillas streets. In March 2011, Bobodi said that the problem of the streets would be addressed soon. In May last year, it was election time. Eighteen months later, streets in the business area and even streets in the residential area of Eltivillas still await rehabilitation. Orient Street, leading to Easybuild, looks worse than ever.

The integrated development plan of 2012/13 to 2016/17 indicates a municipal infrastructure grant (MIG) for the rehabilitation of streets in the Eltivillas business area. The amount budgeted for 2012/13 is R2 008 000. For the next year (2013/14), just under R10.4 million is budgeted and R5 million for the following year.

On 30 October this year, the municipality provided answers to media enquiries. 

“A tender has already been advertised and we are awaiting the evaluation processes to take place for us to appoint a contractor. Commercial Street, Oriental (sic) Road, Eltivillas Business Area are to be rehabilitated,” is the response regarding the progress on the spending of the R2 million budget for 2012/13. The streets to be rehabilitated with the R10 million grant for 2013/14 will only be identified after the current project has been finalised.  “Only one street was rehabilitated and it is still intact. It has never fallen apart,” reads the media statement. An enquiry about the name of the rehabilitated street was not answered. Residents spoken to during an on-site visit to Eltivillas on Monday did not know of any such “rehabilitated” street.

During the visit, municipal workers were seen filling potholes in First Street with gravel. They said that they would fill the holes with tar the next day.

“You see, we are maintaining the streets,” one of the public servants said. Their effort was of little comfort to residents, who wanted to know how the “repaired” patches would look in a few weeks?

News - Date: 12 November 2012

Linda van der Westhuizen

Linda van der Westhuizen has been with Zoutnet since 2001. She has a heart for God, people and their stories. Linda believes that every person is unique and has a special story to tell. It follows logically that human interest stories is her speciality. Linda finds working with people and their leaders in the economic, educational, spiritual and political arena very rewarding. “I have a special interest in what God is doing in our town, province and nation and what He wants us to become,” says Linda.

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