Residents of the Tshitale area outside Louis Trichardt have threatened to boycott the coming general elections, should the Makhado Municipality and the Department of Roads and Transport continue to ignore the bad condition of the roads.

During the rainy season, residents in the Vleifontein area found it extremely difficult to reach their homes while using the tarred roads. Last Wednesday, Mirror received a call from an irate road user, complaining that a bus had slipped on the bad road, causing the road to be blocked off. Learners, educators and people who work in places further away from home were delayed for hours.

One of the people residing in the village, Mr Thomas Hlongwane, said this had been going on for a long time. “Our lives have been a living hell and residents are forced to take a detour to access the main road to and from Vleifontein,” said Hlongwane. He further said that the community was visited by the late former Vhembe district mayor, Sam Moeti, as well as former Makhado Mayor Sarel Nkuzana. During the latter’s meeting with residents, the former mayor took it upon himself to make some follow-ups and report back to the community within two weeks. This happened back in 2004.

A spokesperson for the Phadziri Bus Company, Mr Thilivhali Ramashidzha, said that they had met several times with the Makhado Municipality’s representatives, as well as the Vhembe District and the Department of Roads and Transport, to discuss the road. This was all to no avail and they have been sent from pillar to post.

According to the chairperson of the Tshitale Taxi Association, Mr David Mulaudzi, attempts to meet with the responsible office at the Makhado Municipality to complain about the condition of the road never materialised, as they were referred to the Department of Public Works at Waterval.

Mirror is in possession of several letters from the Tshitale Taxi Association, dating back to 2004, wherein the municipality and the Department of Roads and Transport are urged to pay attention to the problem. Mulaudzi said that they were tired of being driven from pillar to post, only to receive empty promises.

A number of disgruntled road users said that perhaps the only way they would get attention was if they all decided to boycott the coming elections.

The spokesperson for the Makhado Municipality, Mr Louis Bobodi said that the municipality would soon grade the roads. Apparently, a grader was sent out to repair some of the damaged sections last Wednesday. Bobodi said that municipal workers would be working on the road this week.