“Just a few weeks ago, there was a report of a young girl who attempting to avoid a pothole, met in an accident and passed away. But that rests on your conscience, on every councillor that sits here, on every municipal official who sits here, whether you are in technical services, director or the CFO, it rests on your conscience that there are people with the decision you have made, who have died now.”
These words echoed through Newcastle Town Hall during the recent IDP Mayoral Road Shows, as a community member emphasised that failing road infrastructure now threatens the lives of local motorists, beyond merely damaging vehicles.
As growing frustration around service delivery and failing infrastructure sees Newcastillians reach boiling point, it must be noted that as per the Municipality and as reported by Newcastillian News, when looking at the condition of the local roads, its technical department initiated pothole repairs, light grading, and stormwater drainage maintenance to enhance road functionality.
During the Integrated Development Plan Roadshow, the Newcastle Municipality announced additional personnel for its pothole patching team to address the backlog in Newcastle West and Newcastle East. Despite its commitment, the Municipality admitted during the Road Shows that financial constraints limit its ability to fully resolve road and stormwater issues.
Furthermore, the Technical Services Department is seeking alternative funding from government and private sector sources. Additionally, the Municipality has partnered with Fuze, an initiative with the Newcastle Municipality to train unemployed women and youth in pothole repair, creating jobs while addressing infrastructure needs.
This programme, according to the municipality, having completed its theoretical phase, will soon begin practical implementation to enhance road maintenance through community involvement.
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Despite these plans, community demands for action on Newcastle’s roads have became undeniable, requiring a stronger response from the Municipality. A simple drive to a shop or work, has become a risky obstecale course, endangering the lives of thousands of people daily.
In response to this, the Newcastle Municipality stated it is prioritising upgrades to the city’s road infrastructure. “Residents aired concerns around potholes and poor road conditions (at the IDP Roadshow), and the municipality is committed in promptly addressing these issues,” said the Communications Unit.
The Technical Services department is now apparently executing a programme to restore the town’s roads.
“We are dedicated to listening to our community and responding to their concerns. Our goal is to provide safe, durable, and well-maintained roads, and we aim to address potholes throughout the city. We will continue to work tirelessly to improve the quality of life for Newcastle residents,” said Newcastle Mayor Xolani Dube.
Moreover, the municipality plans to deploy teams across various wards for a city-wide road improvement effort. “This initiative demonstrates the organisation’s commitment to delivering exceptional service and fostering a prosperous, sustainable future for Newcastle,” said the Municipality’s Communications Unit.
As the Municipality responds to the community’s call to address Newcastle’s roads, action must follow commitment.
The tragic loss of a young life and ongoing pothole hazards highlight the need for infrastructure reform. Initiatives like the Fuze partnership, which trains unemployed women and youth to repair potholes while creating jobs and the Allen Street repairs show progress, but financial constraints and the repair backlog demand sustained effort and creative funding solutions to rebuild trust and ensure safety.
The success of these efforts depends on transparency and accountability. Newcastillians, frustrated by delays and temporary fixes, need durable roads. With teams deployed and funding pursued, the Municipality must focus on measurable results and community involvement to strengthen Newcastle’s infrastructure, honour those lost, and build a safer future.
With the Newcastle Municipality commiting to sorting out the problem, you can be assured that Newcastillian News will stay on this, ensuring accountabilty for these commitments.
What are your thoughts on the above? Share your views in the comment section below.
3 Responses
The potholes need to be repaired, and then ALL the roads need to be resurfaced.
Ask ex-mayor Afzul Rehman how he accomplished it.
Under his leadership was the last time any proper road maintenance was done.
So, give him a call. He seems to know how to get it done.
How do you win the problems of the potholes. 1st’ly Get qualified people to do the repair task correctly. 2nd’ly Accountability must be taken. 3rd’ly To many leaders/Management posts post and less workers, huge cost saving (Prume the tree from top) 4th’ly Revise all the perks, Double cabs for what?, planned overtime, protection services vehicle perks like 4×4’s and SUV’s because the bigger vehicle (higher is the perks) use for traffic control.(why not make also use of fleet method?)
They have no conscience. The potholes should have been repaired as and when it appeared.We sit with a bloated executive without foresight.