AfriForum Youth’s Tuks branch and a neighborhood watch team used 3.5 tons of tar to repair a pothole. (Photo: Provided)
AfriForum Youth’s Tuks branch used 3.5 tonnes of tar last week to repair a single, dangerous pothole on the corner of Lynwood and Brooklyn Road in collaboration with the organisation’s neighborhood watch team in Brooklyn, Pretoria.
Yvonne Gerber, youth officer for development at AfriForum Youth, says the giant pothole already formed six months ago and posed a serious danger to motorists and pedestrians.
“While the Tshwane metro has simply avoided this pitfall for the past six months, this action is part of AfriForum Youth’s continued efforts to empower communities and offer practical solutions to infrastructure challenges,” she says.
Tar to the value of R15 000 was purchased with donations received by the branch and was also partly funded from membership fees.
The pothole before it was repaired. (Photo: Provided)
Gerber says many of the members of the youth branch have already repaired potholes after learning how to do it at the organization’s youth congress.
“We first clear the road by sweeping and using a leaf blower. Then we cut the sides of the hole so that the ends are sharp. For a (filled) pothole to last it must be square.”
This is followed by preparation material, after which hot tar is used to fill the hole. The tar is compacted, after which sealer is painted on the sides. Gerber says a pothole must be kept dry for at least 24 hours before you can work on it.
They did not get permission from the municipality to repair the pothole, but “some of the people from the city improvement district stopped by to talk to us”, says Gerber.
“Many of us have already fixed potholes.”
Gerber says that while they were working on the busy corner, they made sure they obeyed the road rules and signaled to motorists where to drive.
In this case, the pothole was at a traffic light and the team put out cones, as well as two of the municipality’s barriers.
During the pothole repair process. (Photo: Provided)
Leam Nieuwoudt, vice-chairman of AfriForum Youth’s Tuks branch, says students refuse to stand back and wait for problems to solve themselves.
“Young people have the ability and responsibility to make a difference. This project shows exactly what is possible when we join hands and act ourselves.”
She says the community’s enthusiasm for the repairs and support of the team is proof of how badly needed the repairs were. Gerber says every motorist who stopped to greet the team, take a photo and even those who unloaded soft drinks made the job a little easier.
“Projects like this are not possible without an involved and supportive community,” she says.