Kimberley motorists are voicing their frustrations with the state of the city’s roads, citing potholes and poor road conditions as some of the main issues.
Thomas Louw, a motorist from Kimberley, has had enough. He has been living in Kimberley for two years and says the potholes in Monument Heights near the Diamond Pavilion Mall have been fixed four times in that time. Every time it rains, the potholes are flushed open again, causing problems for drivers who can lose tires and shock absorbers, he says.
Thomas is not one to complain or use social media to air his grievances, but he says enough is enough.
He believes the root cause of this problem is often attributed to the inefficiency of the tender system. All too often, the same people or companies are awarded the tender to do the repair work. This leads to a situation where those who are in the know are the ones who benefit, while the roads remain in a state of disrepair. Thomas says this is especially true when those who are awarded the tender have a friendly uncle working at Sol Gaatjie who gets the contract.
He says the Sol Plaatje Municipality and its Executive Mayor-Councillor Kagisho Sonyoni are not providing adequate service delivery. He feels that the current government is incompetent and needs to be replaced in 2024.
Thomas is not alone in his frustration. Many other Kimberley residents are also fed up with the lack of service delivery and are hoping for a better future. It is time for the government to take action and ensure that the roads in Kimberley are safe and well-maintained, says Thomas.