Residents of Tshimbupfe and neighbouring villages near Vuwani are frustrated by the poor state of the gravel roads connecting their areas to the township.
Main routes such as the D3778, D3753 and D3718 are riddled with potholes and stones, making driving treacherous, especially during rainy weather.
Resident Nthambeleni Gabara said they had repeatedly appealed to the Collins Chabane Municipality, Road Agency Limpopo (RAL) and the Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure, but nothing had changed.
He said former MEC Nkakareng Rakgoale had visited the area in 2023 and promised that construction would start, but the project had never materialised.
"Since we were born, we've never seen a tar road in our village. During rainy days, there is an increased risk of accidents due to skidding and sliding as the gravel roads are in a deplorable state," he said. "We've lost trust and confidence in those representing us at local council level. Every five years they develop Integrated Development Plans, which they fail to implement."
Gabara added that residents felt neglected by the authorities. "We feel we are being treated like second-class citizens. Now that we are still waiting for a tar road three decades into democracy, the question is: which recourse do we have as residents?"
Taxi driver Joseph Mukandangalo said the poor road conditions were affecting their livelihoods. "We work as taxi drivers and ferry commuters around the Vuwani area, but our vehicles end up damaged, and we incur financial losses. We are still paying long-term loans for our taxis," he said, adding that residents planned to ask the Public Protector to intervene.
Department spokesperson Emmanuel Mongwe said the Vuwani Development Forum had recently met MEC Ernest Rachoene to discuss roads D3753, D3778 and D3718. "Requests were made for these roads to be upgraded from gravel to tar," he said. "The MEC confirmed that designs for four of the listed roads have been completed, which positions them for implementation once funding becomes available."
Mongwe added that the province had more than 21,000 km of road network requiring attention, but it was encouraging that four designed roads belonged to the Vuwani cluster.