Originally published on 05 June 2024

In Mahikeng, in the North West province, people helped fix their pothole problems, showing how working together could make local roads better.

What was the problem?

Potholes make it tough to keep roads safe. In Mahikeng, many streets were full of dangerous potholes. The local government had struggled to fix the roads, which made residents unhappy.

How did they solve it?

People in Mahikeng wanted to improve their community, so they fixed the potholes themselves. Abednigo Shebi from Phatsima Village was one person who used broken bricks to patch potholes. Young people without jobs helped with this effort. They wanted to help the community and earn some money.

This became known as the Vala Zonke project. It got more support from the provincial government and local councils. This project aimed to fix potholes and make roads safer, with help from community members who cared about Mahikeng.

How did they do it?

• People like Abednigo Shebi used things like broken bricks and cement to fill potholes.
• Young people in the community worked hard to fix roads and earn money for their families.
• The Vala Zonke project brought the government and local people together to fix the problem.

Acknowledgements:

Original article written by: Sanral

Photograph supplied by: Sanral

Source

Get your community involved

Is there a community-driven group or caring business in your area? A dedicated group of committed people can effectively solve local problems.

Think about starting or joining community groups like a street WhatsApp group, residents' association, or community policing forum (CPF) to get help and to stay informed and involved in local issues.

• How to set up a community group
• How to start a WhatsApp group
• How to start a residents' association
• How to set up a community policing forum
• How to set up a neighbourhood watch
• How to organise community action
• How to use media to create pressure for change

Know your rights – how local government works

It’s important to understand how your local government works so that you can work with them to support what they are doing while your community continues to keep them accountable and deliver services on time. Remember you have a constitutional right to many of the services provided by local government, as well as to accountability and transparency, wherever you live and regardless of how much you earn. It is also where money collected from taxes and rates goes.