Kabelo Tlhabanelo
Farmers and taxi associations teamed together and made sure the Free State Transport MEC Sam Mashinini didn’t duck out of facing their daily nightmare.
They invited the MEC, Sam Mashinini to drive on the very R26 that goes through Ficksburg – and made him do it in his black BMW X3.
That was on 11 March – and already the road is being repaired!
Ficksburg Taxi Association chairman Sefatsa Selane told Scrolla.Africa they knew the MEC would be seeing them and they made sure he would travel on that road.
“He asked us if we wanted to break his car, and we said yes!” said Selane.
“We put our political beliefs aside when we met with farmers. The road has been destroying our taxis and their trucks,” he said.
Selane said they were happy to see road graders immediately on the same day getting rid of the bad road.
Farmer and Sechaba sa Ficksburg Forum spokesman Friedl Von Maltitz said they would not let the MEC travel in the police vehicle.
Clips of the incident made rounds on social media with videos showing braais taking place in the middle of the road.
“We made him travel on that road and we got them to do their job. The community has realised that we can work together,” said Von Maltitz.
Taxi driver Sello Mosiuoa said there was no violence and they started the gathering with prayers.
“I am glad that the MEC had a little taste of what we go through day in and day out.”
The department’s spokeswoman Hillary Mophethe said: “Contractors New Ideas and Land Breeze will be paid R850,000 each for repairing the potholes on the R26.”
