By Thabo Monyela
Ga-Thako- A resident of Ga-Thako village under Greater Tzaneen Municipality, escapes injury after his car plunged into a sinkhole road next to Malemela Primary School on Sunday midnight, March 20.
The driver of the red Mazda bakkie, Modika almost found himself in the dead-end after his car skidded off the road and plunged into a giant sinkhole in a side view.
Petros Modika who is a brother to the driver said his brother escaped the crash with no injuries, however, the car is extremely damaged.
The plight of community members from these six villages has been for almost 17 years pleading with the municipality for a pavement or tar road, however various municipal administrations have always seen re-graveling as the best solution.
The badly damaged road at Ga-Thako Village
“We have been pleading and warning the municipality of how dangerous this road has become, especially during the downpours season but the municipality always responded with ignorance,” the Ga-Thako resident said.
After many years of being pleaded to, the GTM is found wanting on how to address these residents’ over-cry and says they are aware of the damaged state of the road.
According to the municipal Communications officer Vutivi Makhubele, the municipality will dispatch a team to evaluate the road and come up with a plan to get it fixed.
Prior to the 2021 Local Government Elections, the ANC, which has been the GTM ruling party since the dawn of democracy, led an electioneering campaign in Ga-Thako and promised these communities a pavement road, after threatening to boycott elections if their road is not permanently fixed.
Residents were threatening not vote during local government elections
The dangerous holes-riddled road gives access to six villages in Ga-Thako,Kwekhwinya,Jokong, Kefolwe, Kerobeng, Masebutsa and further connects Tzaneen Municipality to Letaba Municipality.
The EFF through its PR and the party’s municipal council whip, Cllr Ramathoka said they are saddened by the occurred tragic incident and will push for the road to be a priority of the municipal’s IDP.
