Progress appreciated, but still a nightmare

After suffering inconvenience for the past 10 months, Eltivillas residents in Makhado (Louis Trichardt) now enjoy newly tarred streets in the residential area, though residents might have to fork out money to level their driveways.

The business area has not been completed yet.

According to Mr Takalani Musandiwa of TM Engineering Services, who spoke at the launch of the project in February this year, the project in the residential area comprised the rehabilitation of 1,32km of streets from tar to asphalt. In the business area, 1,15km was to be upgraded from gravel to paving bricks and 0,7km rehabilitated from tar to paving bricks. The project included the removal of blockages in the storm-water drainage system.

The project should have been completed after eight months.

Residents suffered because of the way the project was managed. They don’t know how to control the traffic. They opened the streets at 13:00 and closed them at 14:00. “When we travelled at other times, we did not know which streets would be open and which closed. They should have advised drivers on the alternative routes they could use while closing the streets. They left the storm-water drainage open and a bus fell into the hole,” said Mr Omar Kalla, owner of Star Fruit Shop and Supermarket. He was, however, satisfied with the tempo at which the project progressed.

Resident and businessman Mr Mehul Patel expressed his satisfaction on 4 November when he saw Polokwane Surfacing taking over and starting to tar. For the past months up to now, they have been experiencing a lack of street lights in First Street and a breakdown of Telkom telephone lines. “The infrastructure had been damaged and, because there are no street lights, armed robbers have been targeting us," said Patel.

Another problem was that the street is now at one level and the driveways of the residents at another level. “Why should there be a difference in levels? Everybody will have to redo their driveways. We are a patient, taxpaying, law-abiding community with no rioting. Why do we have to bear the brunt of the council’s incapacity?” asked Patel.

The signage on the streets needs to be replaced and people are speeding. This brings to mind the fact that with the tarring of Munnik Street in town, the signage was only replaced after serious accidents took place and a lot of pressure came from the community.

Well-known resident Mr Dave Patel might have expressed the general feeling of the residents when he said in the beginning of November: “They are progressing, but it is a nightmare.”

A portion of the paved roads in the business area has been completed. In the past months, customers of some of the businesses had difficulty reaching them. Ms Inga Gilfillan, chairperson of the Soutpansberg Ratepayers Association, expressed her sympathy with businesses like Easybuild and their customers, who suffered inconvenience. “The incapacity to manage the project in the business area is shocking. Easybuild is the biggest hardware business in town and probably in the province,” said Mehul Patel. More than one customer told the Zoutpansberger that they wouldn’t go to that area till the road works were finished. “It is dangerous when it rains and there is mud, and trucks are offloading on both sides of the road and obstruct the way. It leaves only a narrow lane for vehicles going both ways, increasing the probability of having your vehicle crashed,” said one resident. Fortunately, the owner of Easybuild, Mr Nizam Aboobaker, takes a positive stance on the whole matter. “They are busy and they are working and you can’t rush it. That there would be losses, that is kind of obvious. I don’t want to say anything negative about the constructors and builders,” says Aboobaker.

A progress report on what has been completed and what still needs to be done in respect of the streets in the residential area and the business area is still being awaited from the Makhado Municipality.

News - Date: 15 November 2013

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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