Motorists who travel on the Bluegumspoort road just outside of Louis Trichardt will be relieved to know that the generally dilapidated road will be fixed. Unfortunately, they will have to be patient for about two more months.

With the prevailing rainfall over the district during December and January, there has been, now more than ever, a great concern from community members about this treacherous stretch of road.

In a recent media statement, the Democratic Alliance raised their concern about the dangerous road and the risks that it poses for the various motorists who make use of it on a daily basis. Not to mention the loss in thousands of rands of revenue for the numerous guest houses and lodges situated along the road.

“Farmers, guests to the various lodges and personnel from the Air Force Base, Eskom and Telkom have to make use of the Bluegumspoort road almost on a daily basis,” said Cllr Brian du Plooy. “The road is especially slippery when it rains and many have slid off the road, barely avoiding an accident.”

According to the DA, they have been at loggerheads with the Department of Roads and Transport since the 2008/9 financial year to re-gravel the Bluegumspoort road.

“We had a meeting with representatives of the Vhembe District and were informed that the Dzanani-road had to be fixed first,” said Du Plooy.

But by the end of 2010, nothing had come of these promises and the department had to be approached yet again.

At the beginning of December last year, it appeared that the department would finally make good on their promise and re-gravel the road.

Alas, the road remained unattended and nobody came to fix it. What especially baffled the DA was the apparently ignorant outlook, as the only thing they needed to provide to fix the road was machinery and equipment.

“There are various farmers and residents in the vicinity of the road who offered gravel and the necessary soil to re-gravel the road,” said Du Plooy.

When local officials of the department were approached, the Zoutpansberger was informed that no monies had been allocated towards the Bluegumspoort road in the 2010/11 financial year. This was confirmed by the department´s stand-in project leader for the Vhembe District, Mr Amos Mulaudzi.

Monday this week, however, the project’s leader, Mr Etharain Munuwna, said it was not a question of money being allocated. “It is an issue of time. We have a lot of roads to fix,” said Munuwa. “After the rains, we have a lot of roads that need to be fixed,” said Munuwna.

According to him, he is aware of a few farmers who have graciously offered soil and gravel, and the road will be fixed by the department.