Mpumalanga roads deteriorate as graders stand idle

Mpumalanga roads deteriorate as graders stand idle

 BY BRIAN KAJENGO

DA demanding the Gert Sibande District Municipality to commission into action the five brand new road graders on display in front of the municipal building.

“The graders appeared on the front lawns of the municipal building almost four months ago, and were announced to be “ready for action” with great fanfare at the end of the January. As of yesterday, they have not moved.” Anthony Bernardie said.

Bernardie stresses much on value costing more than R10,5 million in total, the municipality has absolutely no excuse to not put them to work. There are various dirt roads in the district municipality that have become all but impassable, such as the Jericho-Sheepmore, Zandspruit/Ngwempisi 1249, and the Davel-Estancia and Davel-Bethal roads.

 With trucks and taxis unwilling and unable to use these roads, the impact on the local agricultural economy is potentially devastating, as workers don’t get to farms, and farmers struggle to get their produce to market.

At first it was rumoured that the municipality had no funds for diesel, but these subsequently been dispelled. Now it understood that low-bed trucks are required to transport these machines, which is laughable, as there is nothing preventing them from going on the road, they only require to license accordingly.

DA told Bvunzamutupo SADC VOICE that it will write to roads and transport MEC Dikeledi Mahlangu and Gert Sibande Mayor Mishack Nhlabathi demanding they take the necessary steps to get the graders licensed, and to deploy them without delay.

 DA said, “After consulting with the private sector, the DA will also facilitate with these stakeholders and government to address whatever constraints there may be preventing the graders from becoming operational, unless of course it is council’s intention to roll out the graders to targeted communities as election day draws nearer.”

DA says there is no use in parading R10 million’s worth of assets on public display, when roads are in a state of collapse and these could contribute significantly in jobs creation and increased economic growth.