Resident spends R160 000 of her OWN money fixing roads in Tshwane

A Bronkhorstspruit resident has reportedly spent about R160 000 of her own money resurfacing roads after years of what the Democratic Alliance (DA) says is neglect by the City of Tshwane.

DA Tshwane mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink made the claim after visiting residents in Bronkhorstspruit on Wednesday to inspect the condition of local roads.

Brink said the situation went beyond potholes and poor maintenance, arguing that deteriorating roads were disrupting livelihoods, damaging businesses and forcing residents to pay for municipal services themselves.

According to the DA, the resident said she had spent approximately R160 000 resurfacing roads around her farm because the City had failed to maintain them.

The roads are reportedly used regularly by municipal sewage vehicles travelling to a sewage plant next to her property.

The resident said the City previously scraped the roads about twice a month, but that maintenance had stopped. She estimates that the roads have not been properly maintained for more than six years.

Municipal vehicles reportedly getting stuck

The poor condition of the roads has reportedly created problems during rainy weather, when municipal sewage vehicles become stuck.

According to the resident, she has at times been forced to help tow municipal vehicles out of the damaged roads.

Farmers have also reportedly struggled to transport goods, with trucks experiencing difficulties accessing properties and getting agricultural products to market.

Brink said the situation demonstrated the consequences of failing to maintain basic municipal infrastructure.

“These roads are regularly used by the City’s sewage vehicles travelling to the sewage plant next to her property,” Brink said.

“A resident should not have to spend R160 000 doing the City’s job.”

The DA also claims the resident attempted to obtain permission from the City before undertaking the resurfacing work herself, but was unable to secure the necessary assistance or approval.

Brink said this had left the resident with the choice of allowing the road to deteriorate further or paying privately for repairs.

DA promises increased infrastructure spending

Brink described the condition of the roads as symptomatic of what he called a wider governance failure in Bronkhorstspruit and said rural communities were frequently treated as an afterthought.

He pointed to the DA’s manifesto commitment to improve municipal infrastructure maintenance if he is elected mayor.

According to Brink, National Treasury has set a benchmark for municipalities to spend at least 8% of the value of their assets on repairs and maintenance, although he said most municipalities fall short of that level.

He pledged that a DA-led Tshwane administration would comply with the standard and introduce cost-reflective tariffs and structurally funded budgets to support long-term infrastructure investment.

“Tshwane’s residents deserve better than a municipality that only arrives after infrastructure has collapsed,” Brink said.

“We need to fix the roads, restore basic maintenance and make Tshwane work for every resident, including the communities of Bronkhorstspruit.”

Would you – or have you – spend you own money fixing potholes in your area?