Motorists in Nelson Mandela Bay will soon be able to drive on the metro’s roads without having to dodge potholes that pose a risk to their lives and do massive damage to their vehicles.
This comes after Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor, Nqaba Bhanga, recently signed off on a budget virement of R8,2 million, solely for the use of eradicating potholes in the metro. The announcement was made during an oversight inspection the mayor and MMC for Roads and Transport, Rano Kayser, conducted at a pothole repair site in Burman Road, Deal Party.
These are additional funds to the R12 million that was initially made available to fight this scourge on the metro’s roads.
Bhanga said that pothole repairs will be taking place over the next two months and will rid the metro of between 8 000 and 10 000 potholes.
The areas targeted will include the metro’s industrial areas, the economic lifeblood of Nelson Mandela Bay.
“The metro’s new coalition of good governance is committed to delivering the services that our residents so richly deserve.
“In September last year, an R11,5 million ‘war on potholes’ was launched with a promise that all potholes in Nelson Mandela Bay would be eradicated by December 2020.
“Not only was this promise not kept, but also the promised additional funding of R6 million, needed to have a sum total of R11,5 million available for the so called ‘war on potholes’, was never approved by council,” Bhanga said.
“Our roads are damaged because they have not been maintained. We have millions (of rands) to make sure that we transform the metro’s roads and make them safer for businesses that use these roads to grow our economy. It is also to ensure that our residents live in a safe environment that will protect them and their vehicles from accidents.”
Bhanga also mentioned that they are currently meeting with the metro’s chief financial officer to make a further R10 million available for a real and tangible attack to fight for the safety of residents.
“Additionally, a further R30 million, budgeted for the resurfacing of roads, will also be used to assist with pothole repairs.
“Whilst the metro currently has R3,5 billion in its accounts, very little has been spent on core service delivery. The coalition of good governance will ensure that the metro’s funds are spent wisely in order to deliver services and improve the lives and livelihoods of our residents.”
