MMC promises road repair for struggling Winterveldt learners
After a long time of enduring hazardous travel conditions, learners at Reimolotswe Primary School in Winterveldt may finally have something to look forward to: safe and accessible roads.
This comes after the MMC for Roads and Transport in Tshwane, Tlangi Mogale, visited the area and committed to addressing the deplorable condition of the access roads leading to the school.
For months, the gravel road leading to the school has been riddled with deep potholes, uneven surfaces, and pools of stagnant water, making it nearly impassable, especially during the rainy season.
For the learners, getting to school has meant dodging mud, stepping through puddles, and waiting in vain for school transport that often cannot navigate the road.
'I was very disturbed by what I found. The road is in a terrible condition,' Mogale said during her oversight visit.
'Children are struggling to get to school, and buses cannot even reach the gate. This is unacceptable.'
Mogale said the condition of the road was worse than anticipated.
She promised immediate intervention.
'I want to apologise to the people of Winterveldt. I promise to fix this road and make it safe for our children. No child should miss school because of broken roads,' she said.
Parents in the community, long frustrated by government inaction, expressed cautious optimism following Mogale's visit.
'We have been begging for help for years. During the rainy season, my children have to carry extra clothes because they arrive at school soaked and dirty,' said parent Lerato Mokoena.
Mokoena said sometimes the bus just doesn't come, and they miss class.
Another parent, Thabang Mhlanga, said he worries daily about the safety of the learners.
'It's not just an inconvenience, it's dangerous. We've seen kids trip and fall in the mud or try to walk along the edge of the road to avoid the worst parts. If this promise is fulfilled, it will change our children's lives.'
The Tshwane metro recently launched a multi-million rand road resurfacing project across Hammanskraal, Soshanguve, Mabopane, and Ga-Rankuwa to improve driving safety in the northern regions.
The project, which began on May 12, is expected to be completed by June 25.
Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said over R73-million, excluding VAT, has been allocated to the project, with the most investment in Soshanguve.
'Each project site is overseen by a city-appointed project manager and engineering consultants to ensure strict quality control and accountability.
'Community liaison officers have been appointed in collaboration with local ward councillors to maintain clear communication between residents and contractors, and minimise disruption to schools, businesses, and public transport services,' said Mashigo.
He confirmed that the resurfacing initiatives are part of the metro's broader long-term maintenance strategy, which aims to extend the lifespan of its road infrastructure.
While the current scope is limited to resurfacing, with no upgrade to drainage, signage, or streetlighting, the metro has emphasised its commitment to ongoing infrastructure development.
The project also includes the employment of local labourers and subcontractors, contributing to economic stimulation in the targeted communities.
The metro encouraged all residents to stay informed through their local ward offices and to co-operate with construction teams to ensure the project's smooth completion.
Mogale previously told Rekord the metro's effort to address the growing number of potholes has intensified through the repairs schedule across all seven regions.
She said inclement weather conditions have also played a huge role in slowing down the progress that had been made, particularly in the previous months.
'We are comforted by the fact that we use the city's asphalt plant, and this has assisted in our war against potholes.
'The plant can produce close to 70 tons of asphalt daily for purposes of eradicating these backlogs,' said Mogale.
She said through the planned schedules in various regions, the metro has managed to identify areas that require improvement.
It has now included a monitoring team to conduct quality assurance and assess the quality of work that gets done by the teams.
ALSO READ: DA moves wants to oust Tshwane Speaker in motion of no confidence
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East
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At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
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