Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality: Road construction ‘going nowhere’
30-06-2022
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News 24
Source
EMBATTLED Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) has failed to provide answers as to why a road construction project has been stalled for two years.
The road has been closed off the entire time, causing an inconvenience to local businesses, taxi operators and individuals. People using public transport complained of walking longer distances carrying groceries, as taxi routes had to be diverted.
Questions were sent to EMLM’s Lonwabo Kowa on June 14. A reminder was sent to Kowa on June 20 but no response was received.
Komani Karoo Express took to the streets to speak to Nomzamo residents affected by the delayed road construction project.
A local businessman said there was no hope the road would be finished anytime soon.
“This is really destroying the township economy. I have 10 employees and I might have to let some of them go. Delivery trucks can’t access my shop and this makes it expensive to run a business,” he said.
Residents who spoke on condition of anonymity, for fear of victimisation, said the situation was exposing them to the already spiralling out of control crime.
“Imagine a woman who sometimes comes out of work at night and has to walk a long distance. I used to walk past two houses and get to my place but now I cross an open veld. We are sitting ducks every night we walk out of the taxis, crime is rife here,” she said.
Said another: “I now have to pay people to help me carry my groceries, food and transport are expensive and now we have this additional expense.” He said that while residents had hoped the project would make their lives easier, it has in fact turned them into a living hell.
Another businessman who runs a restaurant on the same street, Xolile Nkomo, said due to the road closure had turned his customers away due inaccessibility of his venue.
“I am losing a lot of money. There was absolutely no consultation and even now, no communication whatsoever,” he said.
The Express reached out to the taxi industry but could not secure an appointment due to protocols of communication.
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