“A Losing Battle”: Mbombela Residents Decry Worsening Pothole Crisis

The first summer rains, which usually bring relief, have instead exposed a festering wound in Mbombela: a crumbling road network that is pushing residents and municipal repair teams to the brink. Across the city, what was once a nuisance has escalated into a full-blown crisis, with potholes multiplying and deepening, damaging vehicles and fraying public patience.

The situation has sparked a unified cry from affected communities for the City of Mbombela to move beyond what they see as futile temporary fixes and implement lasting solutions.

Temporary Patches and Mounting Frustration

While the municipality maintains that patching potholes is a “daily activity,” many residents argue this approach is a costly and ineffective waste of resources. They report that freshly patched holes often reappear within days, especially after a downpour, leaving roads in a perpetual state of disrepair.

“The municipality needs to admit they have failed to address the decaying infrastructure,” said Sizwe Ntuli, echoing a common sentiment. “Even when they fix them, the repairs only last for a few days. That must be an indication that the road cannot be fixed, but needs to be redone to save money.”

The financial toll on residents is adding to the frustration. Many have suffered burst tyres and damaged rims, turning simple commutes into expensive and hazardous obstacle courses.

A Call for a Strategic Overhaul, Not a Quick Fix

Resident Charles Stuurman acknowledged the city’s financial constraints but proposed a more strategic approach. He believes the municipality is throwing good money after bad by repeatedly patching roads that are beyond their lifespan.

“Some of the roads in town are damaged beyond repair, and they just need to rebuild them and make sure that they do a quality job. That will save them from spending money on constantly repairing the potholes,” Stuurman suggested. He added that the city should prioritize and completely rebuild the roads in the very worst condition.

With the rainy season only just beginning, the fear is that the problem will deteriorate from a crisis to a catastrophe. Residents are demanding that the municipality treat the issue with the urgency it deserves, warning that stop-gap measures are no longer enough. The call is clear: it’s time to stop patching the problem and start fixing it for good.

{Source: Citizen}

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