HUMANSDORP – Frustration is mounting among residents of KwaNomzamo over the continued neglect of two long-standing streets that have never been tarred.
Resident Xolani Woni said Mhlonyane Street and Vumazonke Street, both named after respected community members, have been overlooked for decades despite minor developments elsewhere in the area.
The streets are named after the late teacher and Reverend Albert Mhlonyane of the Presbyterian Church of Africa and the late Mzingisi Primary School teacher Petros Vumazonke.
“Ever since I was a little boy, in these streets of KwaNomzamo, nothing has ever been done to them, and they have never been tarred,” said Woni.
He believes the condition of the roads shows a lack of respect.
“This shows disrespect from our municipal leaders for the members the streets are named after, and the residents living in those streets,” said Woni.
He further said that while there have been minor developments in KwaNomzamo, these two streets have continually been left out.
“I’m not sure exactly what the reasons are for this neglect of Mhlonyane and Vumazonke Streets,” said Woni.
He alleges that the lack of progress discourages former residents from returning home. “Many of KwaNomzamo’s people who have left Humansdorp and live in other parts of South Africa and abroad show no interest in coming back home, and one of the reasons is because of the lack of progress in their hometown,” said Woni.
Reflecting on the years gone by, he said that in the more than 40 years he has lived in KwaNomzamo, he has never seen any work done on the two streets, except for large machines scraping the road after rainy days.
“This is a very sore [sic] sight for us who were born in KwaNomzamo,” said Woni.
He also expressed dissatisfaction with local leadership.
Woni alleges that the community has elected councillors who make countless excuses when asked about issues related to the area and often place the blame on opposition political parties.
He further questioned ward representation and alleges that many of their ward councillors do not stay in the area.
Woni said that it is important for councillors to stay in the same area so that they can identify the needs of the residents.
“My suggestion for the next elections would be to elect an individual who stays in the same location as the people they are working for so that they can easily be reached when there are urgent matters that need their attention,” said Woni.
According to the Kouga Executive Mayor, Hattingh Bornman, Mhlonyane Street and Vumazonke Street were graded in October 2025.
He said that both roads form part of the municipality’s gravel road network and are subject to ongoing maintenance through routine grading programmes.
Bornman further said that maintenance scheduling is conducted in line with operational plans and remains dependent on prevailing weather conditions and resource availability.
“At present, there is no confirmed timeline for the upgrading of these streets from gravel to a surfaced (tarred) standard,” said Bornman.
He said that the upgrading of gravel roads is subject to several key considerations, including the availability of capital budget, prioritisation within the Municipality’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP), and existing infrastructure backlogs across the municipality.
Additional considerations for upgrading include traffic volumes and the strategic importance of the road within the broader road network, and the allocation of external grant funding, such as Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) funding.
“Currently, funding for the upgrading of gravel roads to tarred surfaces has not yet been secured. Given prevailing budget constraints and competing service delivery priorities, such upgrades can only proceed once sufficient capital funding becomes available, and the projects are formally prioritised within the approved planning framework,” said Bornman.
He said that road infrastructure upgrades are implemented in phases and remain largely dependent on the availability of approved capital funding streams.
Bornman said that at present, the following roads are being upgraded through MIG funding: Mtsila Street, Mjekula Street, and Ketse Street.
He said that these projects form part of the municipality’s current approved capital programme and are proceeding in accordance with the allocated funding and implementation schedule.
Bornman further said that Mhlonyane Street and Vumazonke Street were not intentionally excluded from previous development initiatives.
“Road upgrade projects are prioritised in accordance with approved planning frameworks, available funding, and detailed technical assessments. Due to financial constraints and the substantial infrastructure backlog across the municipality, upgrades are implemented in phased approaches.
“This ensures that different sections of KwaNomzamo, as well as other areas within the municipality, receive attention over time based on priority, need, and available resources,” said Bornman.
He said that over the past 20 years, maintenance and development work has been done on the two streets.
Following grading in October 2025, Bornman said that the streets will continue to be included in the municipality’s routine gravel road maintenance programme.
He further said that gravel roads require regular grading and reshaping, particularly following rainfall events, to ensure they remain safe and navigable for motorists.
Bornman said that while the municipality recognises and honours the significance of streets named after respected community leaders, such as Albert Mhlonyane and Jama Vumazonke, the prioritisation of infrastructure maintenance and upgrades is determined by technical assessments and available budgetary resources, rather than the street name.
“The municipality is committed to ensuring that all municipal roads are maintained appropriately and equitably within the limits of available resources,” said Bornman.
He said that the municipality considers the following when prioritising road upgrades: traffic volumes and public transport routes, access to schools, clinics, and economic nodes, and existing infrastructure conditions and service backlogs.
Additional considerations are stormwater requirements, budget availability, funding conditions, and alignment with IDP and approved capital programme.
Bornman said that while permanent upgrades are being planned and funding sourced for these two roads, the following temporary measures can be implemented: inclusion in the weekly grading plan, reshaping and regravelling where material loss has occurred, improvement of stormwater drainage to reduce erosion, and installation of mitre drains where required.
“These interventions assist in improving accessibility and extending the lifespan of gravel surfaces,” said Bornman.
Regarding Woni’s concern about councillors not located in their area of service, Bornman said that the municipality does not have authority over the residential location of a councillor, as this is regulated by national electoral legislation.
“Councillors, however, are elected representatives and remain fully accountable to the communities they serve, irrespective of their place of residence,” said Bornman.
To ensure that councillors are accessible to residents for urgent matters, he said that ward committee meetings are hosted, public participation processes are adhered to, and IDP consultation meetings are conducted.
Additionally, scheduled office hours and community engagements are offered to residents, and there is direct communication via MMC and official contact channels.
Addressing Woni’s allegations about councillors blaming opposition parties rather than focusing on providing solutions to infrastructure problems, Bornman said that the municipality remains focused on service delivery and the planning and implementation of infrastructure projects in line with approved policies and budget allocations.
“The municipality’s responsibility is to provide technical guidance, implement approved projects, and maintain infrastructure within the resources available. KwaNomzamo continues to benefit from ongoing infrastructure investment, including the current MIG-funded projects,” said Bornman.
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