The AfriForum branch in Pongola earlier this week requested that the uPhongolo Local Municipality present an action plan regarding road closures in some of the town’s main streets. This follows after roadwork here was started in May this year. The closures of these streets are the cause of local businesses losing thousands of rand monthly because of their businesses not being accessible.
“Contractors were already appointed in January 2017, but this process was only finalised in March 2017. Construction should have already been completed by the end of July. During a meeting in September this year the Municipality indicated that the project would be completed by the end of October 2017,” says Marilda Schoombee, member of Management at the AfriForum branch in Pongola.
Eugene van Aswegen, AfriForum’s Provincial Coordinator for KwaZulu-Natal, says the civil rights organisation gave the Municipality 48 hours to bring forth an action plan, otherwise the organisation will be compelled to submit a complaint with the necessary authorities at provincial and national government level.