ONE of the longest and winding roads in the Vaal, which cuts across several townships, is the most dangerous of all.
The road is riddled with potholes and it’s so bad that drivers and residents are struggling to use it.
According to taxi drivers and other motorists who use this road regularly, it has been like this for ages and the municipality does not seem to have any appetite to attend to it.
This bad road has even led to thugs robbing motorists as they are forced to drive at a snail’s pace.
Taxi drivers told Daily Sun that they sometimes contribute R50 each to at least patch the road.
But that does not seem to help as sewage and clean water that runs into the streets simply washes away their efforts.
Taxi operator Pheshwana Malewa said: “Many people have been robbed here, especially on that part where they are completely forced to drive at 10km per hour.
“We contribute money out of our pockets to fix what the Emfuleni Municipality is supposed to fix. Why is it our burden?
“But we have no choice because this is the route we have to use daily.”
Like many who spoke to the SunTeam, Pheshwana said one of the major causes of this mess was the sewage which runs into the streets.
The road is so bad that it has swallowed part of Phindile Mkwanazi’s yard.
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Motorists are forced to drive in her yard as the pavement has a huge pothole.
Cars drive in front of what used to be the family shop, almost grazing it.
Phindile said: “My yard is open like this because every time I try to fence it, the fence is taken down.They ask me where their cars must drive. They do this because they also seem to have no choice. As you can see, my yard is now part of the main road.”
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Emfuleni municipal spokesman Makhosonke Sangweni said: “As per municipal plans, Selbourne Road needs complete resealing.
“But at this moment, that’s not possible due to budget limitations.”
Sangweni said: “Owing to aging sanitation and water infrastructure in the area, the said road is prone to sporadic sewer and water spillages that hamper efforts by the Roads Department to repair the road.
