Fleet to fix Ezibeleni road
THE Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality has celebrated the hand over of road equipment, the Yellow Fleet, valued at R100m, which will be used to repair the road to Ezibeleni past Queendustria.
Transport, Safety and Liaison MEC Weziwe Tikana, speaking at an unveiling ceremony of the equipment in Komani, said some municipalities lacked resources.
The fleet of vehicles would assist in paving roads leading to farms, clinics and townships.
In a dialogue with community members, she indicated that paving was more affordable and easier to maintain.
“According to our engineers, a paved road can last up to 15 years.”
The department would outsource engineers to assist in making these projects a success, she said.
EMLM executive mayor, Sisisi Tolashe said she was ready to make use of the equipment to improve roads in Komani, starting with Ezibeleni.
“We thank the Department of Transport through the intervention of the MEC for supporting the municipality with a Yellow Fleet in the form of a grader, tipper truck, a roller, an excavator, a TLB and a water tanker.”
She said 6.5km of paving would be used in Ezibeleni with youths employed to carry out the work.
Ezibeleni resident Siphelele Manyathela said, “The municipality has neglected us for a very long time. Our cars are damaged because of potholes and some people have been involved in accidents in Ezibeleni. There are many ways to raise funds, rather than to keep on saying there is a lack of funds. They always use gravel that is washed away when it rains.”
Among the dignitaries attending the event were OR Tambo District Municipality Mayor, Nomakhosazana Meth, and acting deputy director-general for infrastructure, Mzi Mafani.