Potholes ‘the size of baths’ a big hazard

THE bad state of Mthatha roads has motorists getting hot under the collar.

Potholes – some described as being “as big as baths” – make roads in a number of suburbs a mission to manoeuvre.

Some residents have nicknamed the drive down Errol Springs and some Norwood streets as “dodge the pothole”.

Many residents whose tyres have burst have claimed compensation from the King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) municipality.

The ratepayers’ association said it had raised the matter on numerous occasions, but nothing has been done.

Association member Lungelo Mpongwana said some of the potholes could “pass as baths and jacuzzis in our roads. There isn’t a single suburb that does not have potholes”.

Mpongwana said some of the potholes were man-made.

“In some instances you will find that when there is a burst pipe, OR Tambo municipality employees use an excavator and dig a hole.

“They leave the hole open for days or even a week. When they cover it they just pour soil in the hole,” Mpongwana said.

OR Tambo spokesman Ayongezwa Lungisa said the district municipality had been in talks with KSD regarding the holes caused by ORT workers.

KSD spokesman Sonwabo Mampoza said the municipality had allocated R5.2-million to fill potholes in the 2014/15 financial year. But he admitted this was not enough.