Maintenance still a challenge
The good rain received in the city during the festive season and the first month of the year provided some relief and joy to residents, but also brought along huge challenges for the municipality in terms of dealing with emerging potholes and overgrown sidewalks and open spaces.
In almost every street in the residential areas, there are still some individuals who take pride in maintaining their own pavements, but in many cases residents wait for the authorities to deal with the cleaning up.
The Spokesperson for the municipality, Thipa Selala explains that due to its extensive municipal area, the local authority has a mammoth task to deal with the general maintenance of public areas and street surfaces. “With the limited resources resulting from the impact of Covid-19, our task is not easier and we have to prioritise and first focus on areas such as crime hotspots. We also have to appeal to residents to take charge of their own pavements and thereby allow the municipality to deal with public areas first,” he pleaded. Selala also added that teams of workers are currently repairing potholes and that the area around Goseame was one of the spots tackled last week.
Last week, the management of Our Home/ Ons Tuiste, through the Rotary Club of Pietersburg 100, requested DA ward 22 councillor, Mariette Pretorius to assist with a plea to the municipality to clean the area along Suid Street from Webster to Dorp streets. Pretorius mobilised officials of the municipality’s Waste and Environment Unit and teams with heavy cutting equipment immediately responded and were still busy cleaning on Friday.
“After the murder in 2020 at Koraal Retirement Village it is of utmost importance that the municipal open areas are cleared of hiding spots for criminals. I am grateful towards the Department of Waste and Environment who acted swiftly and for their ongoing willingness to respond to our requests,” Pretorius said.
Any requests for service delivery in ward 22 can be directed to Pretorius. She assured that she will try to assist residents to the best of her ability. She may be called on 082 200 5227.