What’s Happening in Manzini
Dear reader. Today’s article will cover highlights of some of the service delivery activities that are presently being carried out by Council. This is meant to keep Council stakeholders updated on what is happening in the city.
Recovery Plan: Serious Maintenance Services Underway
Following the recent heavy rains which left a trail of damage on Council infrastructure, particularly roads and traffic lights, Council has embarked on a recovery path; the objective being to ensure the city gets back to its usual state in terms of availability of quality infrastructure. At least eight streets have had their drains cleaned (unclogged), road marking has been carried out on four roads, road patching has be done on 12 roads using bitumen and gravel (gravel is used as a stabilizer before bitumen patching is effected), a total of 34 gravel roads citywide have been graded and re-graveled. It is important to mention that the work is not yet complete but a work in progress.
Stakeholders may have also noticed an unusual state of overgrowth in the city; also as a result of the rains. Well, Manzini News can report that Council has embarked on a citywide grass cutting exercise. So far a total of 159, 995sqm area has been covered and the coverage includes the city centre, cemeteries and Council-owned open spaces such as recreational parks. In terms of lighting, six high mast lights that were dysfunctional have been repaired, thirteen streetlights have also been fixed and one traffic light attended to. Again, it is still a work in progress. According to the recovery plan, by end of this month overgrowth clearing will have been carried out in Coates Valley, along the Central Distributor road, Extension 7, Ngwane Park Extension and Fairview South.
Meanwhile bitumen (tar) patching will have covered at least five roads including Tenbergen street, Masalesikhundleni street, Tikhuba street, Martin street (the stretch leading to the Magistrates Court), and Central Distributor road. Other roads, particularly in the townships, will have been patched using stabilized material in preparation for bitumen patching. Road grading would have also taken place in a number of gravel roads within Ngwane Park, Coates Valley, Extension 7, Sterkstroom, Extension 6, Inyoni Park and Lwandle road. Other areas will be covered in March 2019. Residents and members of the public are implored to continue utilizing Council’s 24/7 Call Centre (800 2004/2505 7000) for reporting of service delivery faults (even for suggestions and compliments).