IN an ongoing effort to address the pressing issue of potholes in South Africa’s road infrastructure, the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) has resumed its road repairing program through Operation Valazonke.
This year, the teams are back on the Metro’s roads, patching and resurfacing streets and main roads. The current road rehabilitation work is to prolong the life of the roads. The work includes milling of the road surface, laying a bitumen-treated base layer, and asphalt surfacing.
Since its launch in 2022, this initiative has improved the state of roads in the Buffalo City area. Recently, the intersection of Rosedale Road and Goodall Road in East London’s Amalinda was fixed along with Kettlewell Road, Amatola Street, Tyrell Road, and Berea Terrace. Some streets in Zwelitsha Township and some in Clubview, King William’s Town were also constructed.
“This project is overdue because these cracked, crumbling, and pothole-ridden roads are damaging our cars,” said Amalinda resident, Cebo Nyatela. He said he has had to repair his tires so many times he has lost count. “No matter how carefully or slowly I drive, my tires always get a beating.”
There has been a lot of outcry over potholes. A Facebook page, “Buffalo City Potholes / Electricity Headaches” was created by frustrated Buffalo City Metro residents to vent their grievances.
