28 Nov 2024

Mmopane-Metsimotlhabe MP, Ms Helen Manyeneng inspected the newly constructed road in Mmopane on November 26 to assess damages caused by recent rains as well as the impact of the rains on adjacent homes.

In an interview, Ms Manyeneng, who is also deputy Speaker of Parliament, said she received reports from residents living along the road and from some councillors on November 25, following the November 24 rains.

 The residents, she said, complained that water was flowing into their homes and in some cases clogging in front of their yards, making it difficult to enter or exit their homes.

MP Manyeneng attributed the issue to poor workmanship on the construction of the road. During a tour with the Assistant Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Mr Keoagile Atamelang and other government officials who had accompanied her, she noted that the road section on the other side of Mmopane Block One kgotla had no curb stones and was poorly compacted leading to erosion.

She expressed her disappointment, stating that the road initially brought happiness to the residents, but the situation had turned to sorrow.

As a course of action, Ms Manyeneng stated that she would invite the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, ministry officials, and the contractor responsible for the road construction to come and address the situation.

She emphasised the importance of addressing the issue promptly to prevent further damage and provide a lasting solution to the affected residents.

The Assistant Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Mr Atamelang explained that his visit was aimed at evaluating the quality and state of the infrastructure and assessing factors contributing to water damage.

He emphasised that the issue was not isolated to Mmopane alone as similar incidents had occurred throughout the country.

“This situation is not unique to Mmopane, we are here to understand what led to this situation and assess the steps necessary to prevent a recurrence,” he stated.

He added that his ministry would embark on a nationwide tour to assess the state of road infrastructure and also identify the reasons for delays in project completion.

“We must ask the necessary questions and our goal is to ensure that future infrastructure development is completed to the highest standards,” said Mr Atamelang.

The Assistant Minister further emphasised the commitment of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government on prioritising infrastructure development in alignment with their human-centric governance approach.

“The UDC government is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all citizens,” he said. 

He also drew attention to the lack of bridges on the road.

“During our tour, we observed that there were no bridges constructed over the road, which hindered residents’ access to their homes.”

He elaborated further, that the absence of these bridges caused significant inconvenience to residents, as they were unable to easily cross the road, particularly when it was flooded due to rain.

Mr Leviet Ntwayagae, a resident of Mmopane, shared his story as an example of the challenges faced by many in the community.

He said that last year when the road was under construction, his home suffered significant damage due to rainwater. He said his valuables were ruined, and his yard was flooded.

He said the contractor assured him that their insurance company would compensate him, but to date, he had not received any compensation.

Ntwayagae went on to express his frustration with lack of resolution to the matter despite having raised the issue with ministry officials.

The Mmopane road infrastructure was constructed by Coloc & B.T and FC Joint Venture. Ends