By Doreen Mokgolo
- More than 10 road projects in Tshwane townships were suspended in 2021, leaving residents with dangerous trenches and flooding.
- The metro promises to restart all suspended projects after finalising new contracts and designs.
Over 10 road and stormwater projects in Tshwane townships have been on hold since 2021 when the DA-led council stopped them, citing money problems or poor building work.
The money intended for these projects was later used elsewhere.
On Monday, the MMC for roads and storm water, Tlangi Mohale, did an in-loco inspection tour of projects that had been discontinued in Hammanskraal, Mabopane and Soshanguve.
She told Scrolla.Africa that out of 13 halted projects, only three were stopped because of poor work – one in Motsoeding and two in Soshanguve.
“Some projects were stopped at 70% completion, leaving dug-up trenches in front of people’s homes,” she said.
“Rainwater now floods low-lying houses and soil erosion makes it hard for people to get to their homes.”
Mohale said that even though the roads were funded by grants, they didn’t need to stop the work.
“During the last council meeting, we fought against stopping all these township projects, which denied our people services,” she said.
“They didn’t just lose basic services – their safety was at risk for over three years.”
The metro plans to restart all stopped projects once they sort out contracts, new designs, inspections and surveys.
The MMC said this will show how much money they need to finish the work.
Soshanguve resident Mahlaku Molefe said they pay rates but get poor service.
“Nothing works here – we get load reduction, water cuts, roads full of potholes or unfinished projects,” she said.
“The trenches near our homes fill with rainwater and children try to swim in them. We fear for their lives.”
Pictured above: Tshwane MMC of roads and storm water Tlangi Mohale.
Source: Supplied
