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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality is concerned over the lack of attention given to the maintenance of local roads. This issue was highlighted by the recently tabled Draft Integrated Development Plan (IDP) in the Council on Roads Capital Projects for the financial year 2023/2024.

According to the IDP, the municipality plans to focus only on three road projects for this financial year. These include a 5 km paved road in the Namahadi area costing R10.2 million in phase 4, an R1.4 million budgeted for the paved road in the same area in phase 3, and a footbridge in Monontsha with a budget of R6.1 million. While these projects are important, the DA believes that the municipality should prioritise basic service delivery issues, such as road maintenance.

Potholes are a major problem in the municipality, damaging cars' tyres and causing inconvenience to the community. In some areas, community members have resorted to filling up potholes with sand, however, this only makes the issue worse during the rainy season as rain causes erosion that enlarges the potholes. The IDP provides an opportunity to address this issue, but the MAP16-led coalition has chosen to neglect the maintenance of roads in MaP.

It is high time for the municipality to get back to basics and serve the community by maintaining the roads. The DA will insist that the IDP address this issue before its approval at the end of May. The party will continue to raise concerns about neglected road maintenance and the fixing of potholes in MaP until the MAP16-led coalition recognises it as a serious issue facing the municipality.

The DA urges the municipality to prioritise the maintenance of roads in MaP and to address the issue in the IDP. We remain committed to serving the community and ensuring that basic service delivery issues are addressed promptly and efficiently.

Issued by Richard Khumalo - DA Councillor Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality