Urgent tarring of the road serving Shalleng, Rietfontein, Madipelesa and other Ba Ga Mothibi villages

We, the undersigned residents of the 14 Villages of Ba Ga Mothibi, hereby submit this petition to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure.

For over 90 years, the people of Shalleng, Rietfontein, Madipelesa and other villages have been denied access to a proper, safe tarred road to access basic services.

All 14 Villages depend on one route to Hartswater for work, business and services. The current gravel road is in a state of collapse and is a direct threat to life, education, health and economic opportunity.

The problems we face daily

  1. No access when it rains: Vehicles get stuck and the entire community is cut off. No ambulances, taxis or goods can get in or out.
  2. Education collapses: 60% of teachers travel in from other areas and cannot reach schools when it rains. Learners from Rietfontein and Madipelesa can miss classes for days.
  3. Healthcare is inaccessible: All 14 Villages rely on the Community Health Centre in Sekhing. During rains, sick people, pregnant women and the elderly cannot reach the clinic, and emergency services cannot reach us.
  4. Safety and justice are compromised: The Police Station and Court are in Kgomotso. With only one police bakkie and bad roads, response times are delayed and people struggle to get to court.
  5. Economic exclusion: With unemployment at over 80% in our area, this road is our only way to look for work in Hartswater and beyond. Bad roads mean no jobs, no business and no economic growth.
  6. Failed regravelling: Regravelling has been done for years but does not solve the problem. This major road is used daily for emergencies and must be tarred.

We therefore call on the Minister to:

  1. Personally visit Shalleng, Rietfontein and Madipelesa to see the condition of the road.
  2. Prioritise and budget for the immediate tarring of the road connecting the 14 Villages to Hartswater via Sekhing and Kgomotso.
  3. Provide a clear timeline for planning, design and construction to start.

Residents have protested and raised these concerns for years. The people of Ba Ga Mothibi cannot be expected to wait any longer for a safe and reliable road. 

2345 supporters

17655 needed to reach 20000

We, the undersigned residents of the 14 Villages of Ba Ga Mothibi, hereby submit this petition to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure.

For over 90 years, the people of Shalleng, Rietfontein, Madipelesa and other villages have been denied access to a proper, safe tarred road to access basic services.

All 14 Villages depend on one route to Hartswater for work, business and services. The current gravel road is in a state of collapse and is a direct threat to life, education, health and economic opportunity.

The problems we face daily

  1. No access when it rains: Vehicles get stuck and the entire community is cut off. No ambulances, taxis or goods can get in or out.
  2. Education collapses: 60% of teachers travel in from other areas and cannot reach schools when it rains. Learners from Rietfontein and Madipelesa can miss classes for days.
  3. Healthcare is inaccessible: All 14 Villages rely on the Community Health Centre in Sekhing. During rains, sick people, pregnant women and the elderly cannot reach the clinic, and emergency services cannot reach us.
  4. Safety and justice are compromised: The Police Station and Court are in Kgomotso. With only one police bakkie and bad roads, response times are delayed and people struggle to get to court.
  5. Economic exclusion: With unemployment at over 80% in our area, this road is our only way to look for work in Hartswater and beyond. Bad roads mean no jobs, no business and no economic growth.
  6. Failed regravelling: Regravelling has been done for years but does not solve the problem. This major road is used daily for emergencies and must be tarred.

We therefore call on the Minister to:

  1. Personally visit Shalleng, Rietfontein and Madipelesa to see the condition of the road.
  2. Prioritise and budget for the immediate tarring of the road connecting the 14 Villages to Hartswater via Sekhing and Kgomotso.
  3. Provide a clear timeline for planning, design and construction to start.

Residents have protested and raised these concerns for years. The people of Ba Ga Mothibi cannot be expected to wait any longer for a safe and reliable road.