Ward 40 Councillor Makola is happy that the Mohwelere Road in Phomolong has now been fixed as it had proved to be a nightmare and a source of frustration among taxi drivers, residents and commuters alike.
The road, known as “The Road to Hell” in the community of Phomolong and Extension 6 in the Far East of Mamelodi, was always filled with potholes, and had never been in good shape ever since it was built around 2011 or so.
Taxi drivers and motorists have always been reluctant to use ” The Road to Hell” due to its potholes.
The potholes damaged vehicles’ shock absorbers and caused flat tyres.
Recently a taxi driver told Tshwane Talks that they as operators were continuously fighting with their passengers because passengers wanted to be driven through the “Road to Hell” to their destinations, but taxi drivers would always insist that there was no way they would drive their vehicles on the said road.
Taxi drivers would normally drop off their passengers some hundred meters away from their homes so as to avoid getting on to Mohwelere Road, but passengers would in turn demand to be dropped off right in front of their yards as they have paid full amounts for their trip, insisting that Mohwelere Road is officially a taxi route and that taxi drivers must drive on it.
Motorists and taxi drivers had to drive cautiously and very slow on the “The Road to Hell” and thus caused traffic jam, resulting in workers getting late for work, and learners getting late for school.
According to residents, motorists and taxi drivers used to hand out some coins to unemployed youth in the community who volunteered to patch up the potholes, but this initiative turned out to be futile as the potholes simply increased in number and grew larger in size almost daily.
The driver added that to make matters worse, the potholes were constantly flooded by rainwater as well as water coming from the many car wash businesses that are situated along the road.
“I am overexcited that Mohwelere Road has finally being fixed because it has been giving us residents of Phomolong and Extension 6 sleepless nights,” said an elated Councillor Makola in an exclusive interview with Tshwane Talks last week.
“Many years ago, when I was a community activist before becoming a Councillor, I used to complain to the City of Tshwane Municipality constantly about this road without any success,” he said.
“The cause of the potholes was that there was no proper storm water drainage system on the road, which was supposed to be installed near the fire station that is on the road, but due to lack of communication between community leaders, the company that was supposed to install the drainage pulled out of the project,” explained Makola.
“Residents are so happy, including taxi drivers, about this new development,” he said, adding in the process that all along he as Councillor had been secretly accused by some members of the community of having stolen the funds that had been budgeted for the repair of the Mohwelere Road.
“As a Councillor I am an intermediary between the municipality and the residents and it is up to me to clearly explain my role to the residents, instead of fighting them regarding the false accusations that some of them have been spreading against me,” said Makola earnestly.
“Today it has been proved that I have not stolen even a cent from the road repair project, I am happy, everybody is happy, and I wish residents would celebrate this matter with a braai vleis,” said a relieved Makola.
He told Tshwane Talks that he has held meetings with car wash outlet operators whereby it was agreed that there should no longer be car washing activities on Mohwelere Road.