The Mbombela Local Municipality (Barberton, Nelspruit/Mbombela, Kaapschehoop, White River, Hazyview) is waiting for disaster management funds to be allocated before repairing the R40 road running through Hazyview and other municipal roads.
Although the R40 is a provincial road, there is an agreement between the provincial Department of Roads and the Municipality to repair the 2 kms that run through Hazyview.
The FF Plus has been requesting the Mayor, Sibongile Makushe, in writing since December 2022 to repair the terrible R40.
The extent of the damage to the R40 has meanwhile been exacerbated by the constant rain throughout February. If maintenance had been done to the road, the rain would have caused minimal damage.
Departmental officials admitted that Mbombela failed to pay the tar supplier, but added that repairs will be done in January 2023.
But now the Municipality claims that it is waiting for the disaster budget to enable it to repair the damage to the R40. This budget will, however, only be earmarked for the repair of 3 000 potholes in the northern part of the Hazyview and White Hazy region.
The annual maintenance budget for minor road repairs is not nearly enough to cover the repairs of potholes throughout the financial year. The excuse of waiting for the disaster allocation is a sign that departmental finances are not being managed correctly.
So, now Hazyview taxpayers have offered to buy the warm asphalt and sponsor the machinery needed to repair the road. It means that taxpayers will pay double for the road repairs.
That would not have happened if it were an FF Plus-controlled Municipality.
