More promises and excuses as FTLM struggle to complete a 2.6km road
BURGERSFORT
The manager in the office of the mayor, at the Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality, Thabiso Mokoena said the municipality will ensure the Dresden Access Road Project is completed.
Mokoena was recorded on a video clip which went viral on social media, he was talking to activist and digital creator Mogohu the activist.
Mokoena has made the commitments, despite the contractor having vacated site at the R34 Million worth project.
In the clip, Mokoena makes these remarks: “We want to reiterate to Dresden residents, that the issue of the incomplete road will be resolved.
“We had problems with the contractor, and there are rules and regulations to be adhered in solving such problems.
“There is a way forward, which will be implemented by my seniors (municipal manager and mayor) to ensure the issue of the road is solved.
“I can assure the residents that the contractor will be back on site to complete the job.”
On June 17, Sekhukhune Times visited the site and discovered, the road is still gravel and the contractor has taken some of the equipment from the site office.
Political parties, the DA and the Defenders of the People (DOP) have been vocal about the Dresden situation, questioning the FTLM’s failure to complete the road.
“Service delivery in Fetakgomo Tubatse has stalled and projects are yet to be finished while the expenditure is at 100%. The Dresden access road cost is R34m. The project expenditure is 100% and the project is only at 72% physical progress,” said the DA’s Tumelo Molapo.
In the past months, it has been empty promises by the FTLM with no action. FTLM mayor Eddie Maila visited Dresden back on July 2025.
“There is no crisis regarding the Dresden access road project. We can assure the people of Fetakgomo Tubatse, especially those in Dresden, that the project will be completed, and that sufficient funds remain for the outstanding work”, he said during the visit.
At the time, Maila dismissed social media speculation that the project had stalled and that the contractor was overpaid.
“The allegations circulating on social media are not a true reflection of what is happening on the ground,” he said.
“I came here to see for myself, and my assurance to local communities is that the project will be completed. Under this administration, we have no history of paying contractors who are behind schedule. If a contractor is behind, expenditure will be aligned with actual progress.”
When Maila announced the project in July 2024, he said the 2.6km stretch of asphalt road would be constructed over a period of 10 months.
It has been more than 23 months, and it now looks like, “the dream of having a tar road for Dresden people, will remain just a dream.”
When the project was introduced, the community welcomed the construction, having faced difficulties during the rainy season.
Some villagers now claim they are trapped in their yards by the incomplete road, while others say they are forced to travel longer distances to access their homes. Residents accuse the municipality of not caring about them.
Once again, Sekhukhune Times tried to solicit comments from the FTLM, but the municipality was yet to respond at the time of going to print.
