Residents cars battered by road
Drivers incur expenses for damaged rims and tyres
PEOPLE living in apartments and townhouses in Gonubie say their 1km access road is a rock-strewn, rutted track.
Many residents of Smallville Mews and Gonubie Palms in Quinera Mouth Road own lowslung, upmarket vehicles.
Rims are being dented, stabilisers bent and tyres punctured.
One woman driver had to call for roadside assistance when she became bogged down in mud and stranded.
The road is bumpy with big loose rocks, as well as dongas and trench-sized runnels.
Motorists said they had to drive on the wrong side of the road to avoid these hazards.
Many must use the road at least twice a day. Help is not on the way. Provincial roads and public works spokesman Mphumzi Zuzile said there were no plans to tar the road in this year’s financial budget.
In fact, the department only had R2-billion to spend on a R102-billion provincial road infrastructure backlog.
“People need to understand there is no budget for this road. The road was recently graded in December,” he said.
“We are working on grading it again. We have been doing so for the past five years.”
Gonubie Palms resident Mxolisi Meya said the road had been neglected for years.
“The road is really bad, especially after it has rained.
“The soil has eroded and there are huge rocks that we need to drive on,” Meya said.
“I have spent thousands of rands fixing my car because of the road. I have to get my wheels aligned almost every month and have replaced all my tyres due to punctures.”
Melissa Crawford said she had stopped washing their car because of the dust. “There is no point any more. By the time I get to the main road it is dirty again,” she said.
Natasha Jack said she had to call road assistance when she got stuck in mud on a rainy day. Her bent rims cost her close to R2 000 to repair.
“The road has been like this for years now.
“It is upsetting because our cars really get damaged.
“Everyone has a story to tell about this road. I’ve been stuck for hours trying to get out of mud. I’ve had to replace bent rims and stabiliser links.
“We pay a lot of money to stay here. Rates are sky-high but our road is horrible,” said Jack. —