South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema have sounded the alarm over the treacherous state of the roads in Matjhabeng municipality.
The pair took to Twitter where Vavi posted a picture exemplifying the state of the crumbled road in Thabong, Oppenheirmepark and lashing out on municipal officials to be shown the exit door.
In this thread, the red beret leader Malema, also lambasted the road and summoned transport minister Fikile Mbalula ‘Mr Fix’ as he is fondly known to urgently attend to the tweet shared by the trade unionist.
The cash-strapped Matjhabeng municipality has been battling to patch a single pothole in its six townships namely, Allanridge, Hennenman, Odendaalsrus, Ventersburg, Virginia and Welkom.
Residents slammed the municipality, while other aggravated citizens labelled the entire province as the ‘Land of potholes’.
Speaking to Kasi Voice News, Vavi said the state of the roads in the Free State is appalling and the municipal officials needs to be held accountable.
“It’s high time that ANC-led government is hold accountable for their actions, people need to take the battle to the streets to raise their issues over poor service delivery,” said Vavi.
The Free State government has been criticised over pothole issues, where motorists said the government has done nothing to attend to these potholes, which end up claiming lives and damaging their cars.
Earlier this month, roads and transport MEC William Bulwane embarked on a pothole patching programme to the lingering issue of potholes across the province.
At that time, Bulwane said this operation will be an ongoing programme, and it will incorporate rehabilitating even municipal roads within the province.
This campaign was launched as part of the transport ministry’s nationwide campaign ‘Operation Valazonke’.
Free State department of roads and transport allocated R736 million since 2019 to fill potholes, but there is very little to show for it.
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