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The concerning state of Newcastle’s roads continues to raise questions from residents. This is as potholes, chunks of road and the general road surfaces persist in deteriorating.
With Summer roaring on and climate change presenting strange new wet weather cycles, unless tendered to, the roads will get worse.
Considering residents’ concerns, the Newcastle Municipality explains that there is light at the end of the tunnel. This age-old issue is set to be remedied under the new community-conscious Mayor.
Mlungisi Khumalo, the Municipal Spokesperson, explains that Newcastle Mayor, Cllr Xolani Dubi, has indicated that his administration’s priority is to restore and repair the town’s infrastructure.
Among the top priorities are road resurfacing and pothole repair.
According to Khumalo, the Mayor recently went on an oversight tour of the town, assuring residents that his administration will work quickly to address pressing infrastructure issues. This also includes restoring the taxi rank.
“In line with his party’s slogan ‘Sethembe’ which translates to ‘Trust Us’, the Mayor also says his administration will tirelessly work without fail to restore the resident’s confidence in local government. The Mayor also urges residents to work collectively with the government to build Newcastle as a prosperous area.”
The question now becomes, when can Newcastillians expect to see work completed on Newcastle’s roads?
Roadworks are ongoing, according to Khumalo, and the Technical Services Department always services and maintains roads throughout Newcastle.
However, he adds, “His Worship the Honourable Mayor is also committing to sharply focus on the restoration of Newcastle’s roads in the new year and wants to focus on taking services to people. He further wants to make the municipality an institution which works for the people of Newcastle.”
Apart from the budget, other factors (weather and the provision of supplies that arrive on time) influence the rate at which roads can be repaired.
He asserts that Cllr Dube intends to prioritise implementing a rapid response strategy despite the challenges. As a result, the residents of Newcastle will not be inconvenienced by the speed with which roads are repaired.
When reviewing previous repair work, especially after numerous tenders were awarded to address the issue, one cannot help but wonder if the Newcastle Municipality graded the product supplied by the said companies and the completed work to ensure it was done correctly. And did the respective companies provide any kind of guarantee for their work?
Khumalo emphasises, “Any company which conducts business with the municipality has an obligation to guarantee the highest standard of work. The tendering process is vigorous to ensure that the municipality receives value for money. The municipality has a duty not to work with companies which provide below standards work.”
What are your thoughts on this? Share your views in the comment section below.
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Comments 5
This specific road damage was done by the municipality after a burst pipe a few month ago. Half finished job , instead of fixing the road after sorting the leak it’s just left to get bigger, make more damage to road .and eventually cost more money to fix it. Half ass job as usual!
I wonder if the Mayor and his team visited Peacock Crescent, Aviary Hill? I hope so because the condition of the road is really bad and needs urgent attention
Hopefully Aviary Hill is also on the “repair list”. I reported potholes to our councillor more than six (6) months ago and NOTHING has been done.
Maybe the Advertiser can take a drive and view, amongst others, Hornbill, Kwikstertjie, Canary and Mossie, not to mention ALL the roads below (west) of Nagtegaal.
Take a drive around lennoxton, Fernwood, paradise MR mayor and see for yourself, also the top off Harding street and the incomplete work on Allen Street leading to the RTI office…….
I will be travelling from jhb to new castle kzn. via Balfour, standerton, volksrust,,majuba. Are the potholes very bad?