The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Maruleng Local Municipality has lodged a petition on behalf of the communities of Bismark, Enable, and Worcester, calling on both the municipality and Road Agency Limpopo (RAL) to urgently repair the road through Bismark Village in Ward 6, as well as the collapsed bridge connecting the surrounding villages.
The municipality has been given 20 working days to inform residents how and when it intends to fix the road and bridge. The petition will also be delivered to the Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure, with a call to repair the collapsed bridge before the rainy season worsens conditions even further.
Residents of these villages are exasperated after years of what can only be described as deliberate neglect. The Bismark road, a vital link to neighbouring communities, has not been maintained in over a decade and is now almost impassable, while the bridge that collapsed in 2014 has simply never been repaired.
The DA stands in solidarity with these communities and condemns what appears to be intentional neglect by the ANC-controlled municipality, which seems to prioritise areas where its councillors and supporters reside. The municipality is reminded that it has a constitutional duty to maintain all roads under its jurisdiction.
The DA will continue to hold the municipality accountable and ensure that the needs of all communities, not just a select few are addressed. Maruleng belongs to all who live in it.