Taxi operators at the Dr. Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality in the North West are appealing to the Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula to fix the poor state of the N12 road.
This is as Mbalula is tomorrow expected to inspect progress on road maintenance in Wolmaranstad.
The provincial chairperson of South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) , Sebusang Tladi, said the roads were inaccessible.
He said they spent too much on petrol because of the bad roads.
“We are forced to take longer routes to avoid the potholes, most of the time, we are not using our routes, and if the traffic officers stop you on the road that you are not supposed to be using, you get a ticket,” he said.
He said it was tough for them. “Petrol went high, people are also unemployed and no longer using the taxis and then we have to face the bad road infrastructure,” he said.
He pleaded with the government to do something about the situation and fast. In March about R45 million was set aside for the maintenance of the road.
During his last visit, Mbalula said the North West government made a wrong policy decision when it decided to take over the repairs of the N12 road from Potchefstroom to Wolmaranstad and failed to maintain it. Mbalula said the province made a decision propelled by corruption. He said the road will soon be handed over to Sanral.
