By Siphesihle Nondishe
Several local businesses and civic associations are mucking in to fix Makhanda’s never-ending pothole problem.
Markus Mostert, the newly elected chairperson of the rejuvenated Makana Business and Residents Association (MBRA), is also the owner of the Siyakubonga Funeral Service. “Siyakubonga fixes potholes, but also gathers other businesses together to fix the potholes that are in front of their businesses or houses. We also encourage them to clean the streets and make our community look better,” Mostert said.
During the MBRA AGM in July, members and the general public were encouraged to buy their own discounted pothole fixing kits from hardware stores like BUCO. Mostert said that many individuals had already shelled out their own money to buy pothole-fixing components.
Makana Revive! is a community trust that has, since 2017, funded and administered pothole-filling projects, leveraging both community donations and local labour.
Local food manufacturing company, Carara, has also been very active in filling potholes recently. If you would like to support Carara’s work, you could make a donation to: Carara, Standard Bank, Branch 050917,
Account 081973330.
Mostert said the main theme of all these initiatives is “self-help”. “We should not wait for the government to do things for the community you live in. Try to assist where you can,” Mostert said.
One big gap in Makhanda’s pothole-fixing army at present is the National Arts Festival’s Social Employment Fund (SEF). Before this year’s festival, over 1 600 Social Employment Fund (SEF) workers battled Makhanda’s crumbling infrastructure. Potholes were filled, storm drains cleared, and sidewalks restored.
However, Phase Three of the SEF ended on May 20, and there is growing uncertainty about the future of the project. The NAF’s SEF co-ordinator, Hilton Haakonsen, said the project was on hold until further notice.
Meanwhile, the Makana Municipality has begun a R28 million rehabilitation project on Albert Road and M Street in Makhanda, focusing on a 4.2km section of this heavily used taxi route that connects to the CBD.
Another important project underway is the R9.2 million road repairs in York Street and the surrounding areas damaged by the 2023 floods. This includes closure and reconstruction on sections like the Y junction between York and Webber Street and the bottom section of Musgrave and Siegfried Street.
