Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) spokesperson, Gcobani Msindwana, has confirmed that material used to repair Dahlia Street in Mlungisi was safely stored after rumours had emerged that residents were stealing the material in that area.
The Rep reported (‘Way paved for R3.1m repair of Dahlia’, June 7) that EMLM spent R3.1m to repair Dahlia Street in Mlungisi at the Esigingqini intersection. The 270m stretch of road will be paved and a bypass has been created between Dahlia Street and Unifound to accommodate road users and to minimise congestion.
Msindwana said 80mm interlocking paving bricks would be used and repairs would include upgrading the stormwater drainage system and the replacement of damaged kerbs.
Speaking to The Rep this week, Msindwana indicated that the paving project was in progress. “All layers and works from sub-base to base course have been completed. Pavers will be laied once the road bed has been processed.”
In response to allegations that material was allegedly being stolen by residents, Msindwana indicated that the material was safe and stored at the technical services offices, adding that material was not stolen. “The only issue in Dahlia Street are the children playing on site although workers keep reprimanding them to refrain from the act.”
Residents who did not want to be named said community members were using wheelbarrows to steal gravel meant to assist in the construction of the road. “I observed that residents were stealing and it is mostly young people. I tried to report this, but I could not get through to the technical services office so I called the municipal manager’s office. Heaps of gravel are still there and they are supposed to be layered by now. There is the same issue near KwaKomani Comprehensive School,” said one resident.
Msindwana urged community members to assist the municipality by keeping children away from the construction site. “We seek community support as the road construction is meant to benefit them and therefore their assistance in the project is paramount to the success of the project. We are also in a programme of re-gravelling in Newvale ward 14. We have tipped G5 material and are trying to speed up the process of processing the material as we have one grader,” he said.
