In the wake of devastating floods that swept across Limpopo, residents of Mankweng Unit D have taken matters into their own hands to repair a vital road that was left in disrepair.
On Wednesday, 15 January, a group of determined locals gathered to tackle the damage caused by heavy rains, which had left large water-filled potholes across the once-tarred road. With the new school term underway, the community was particularly concerned about the difficulties children faced in getting to school.
By early morning, the residents had started working together to patch up the road using an assortment of materials, including bricks, stones, and sand. Their goal was to make the road passable for both pedestrians and vehicles, which had been struggling to navigate the area due to the damage.
Queen Malatji (53), a long-time resident of the area, expressed her concern and determination to help. “I’m old, but I’m still active. I decided to come out and lend a helping hand because these damaged roads affect us all,” she said. “Our children were having trouble getting to school, and even cars were having difficulty passing through. That’s why we, as the community of Unit D, came together to fix our tarred road ourselves.”
Andy Mamabolo (32), another resident, shared similar sentiments, emphasizing the community’s resolve to take action. “Instead of waiting for the municipality or government to step in, we decided to take matters into our own hands,” he said. “With many unemployed youth and active elderly people in our area, we knew we could make a difference. Fixing the road benefits everyone who uses it, and we’re glad we could make this improvement.”
However, while the residents are proud of their efforts, they remain concerned about the long-term durability of the repairs. “We’re happy with the progress we’ve made, but we call on our leaders to come and finish the job,” Mamabolo added. “The materials we used might not hold up for long, especially if we experience more rain. If that happens, we’ll be back at square one.”
The Department of Public Works, Roads, and Infrastructure acknowledged the extent of the damage caused by the recent floods. Spokesman Emmanuel Mongwe explained that while some roads had been addressed promptly, others required further evaluation by engineers.
“The heavy rainfall has caused significant disruptions across the province,” Mongwe said. “We were not prepared for such widespread damage, and it has set us back in our ongoing road maintenance efforts. We are working as quickly as we can to assess and repair the affected roads, but the situation is indeed very challenging.”
For now, the residents of Mankweng Unit D have shown a remarkable example of community solidarity, demonstrating that when faced with adversity, a united effort can bring immediate relief—though long-term solutions will still be needed.
