Download PDFThe community of Stretford Ext 8a, Orange Farm, is frustrated over the incomplete road construction since September 2024. Community members were very happy when the road construction work started. Residents were excited that they would also be walking on a normal and paved street instead of the dusty gravel, but since February 2025, There have not been any signs that the roads will be completed any time soon.
There has been a lot of rainfall over the last two months, causing a lot of mud on the unpaved road. Stretford resident, Busisiwe Makoma (32), says she struggles to take her daughter to school “because when it rains like this, the road is unbearable to use, the road is filled with water, and it becomes difficult to go to work.” Makoma notes that she also must wear rubber boots because her normal working shoes will be dirty. During such times, she must carry an extra pair of shoes, but it stresses her as she doesn’t have a locker at work.
The community is complaining about the barricades that they have, which young children in the neighbourhood go to since they don’t understand that they should not play in there. The parents fear that something bad might happen one day.
Fish*, 32, from the construction company building the road, said that it’s difficult for them to work since it is raining nonstop. Some of their machinery can’t work when there’s rain because it becomes slippery.
The community of Stretford Ext 8a is left frustrated that after waiting for so many years for the road to be paved, the work has been stopped by rain. They were promised that by March 2025, the street would be completed and functional.
Khanyisile Gobuang, 30, reported that waste removal trucks have not been coming to their side of the area due to the construction. They have had to have to carry their garbage bins to the next street for the municipality to empty them of the garbage.
The community is also worried about their yards. Gobuang says that after the construction started, it seems that overflowing water will spill into people’s yards causing flooding for them.
The community members will wait for the construction to be completed to see what awaits them.
The roads in Zuurbekom, Westonaria Agricultural Holdings, have not been properly maintained for a while now. Westonaria Agricultural Holdings is a place that contributes meaningfully to the agricultural sector, but the roads are not dotted with potholes, visible at least from mid-2023 to date. The streets have not been fixed.
Road maintenance projects were last visible in 2024.
The street committees are now taking the matter to the local municipality of Rand-West, one of the committee members said.
This article was submitted on 10 June 2021. You may republish this article, so long as you credit the authors and Karibu! Online (www.Karibu.org.za), and do not change the text. Please include a link back to the original article.
