Kouga Municipality is set to accelerate its resealing of roads with the addition of a new and innovative truck for this purpose. Pictured are (from left) Kouga Executive Mayor, Horatio Hendricks, and Kouga Fleet Manager, Nico Gouws.

KOUGA Municipality is set to accelerate its resealing of roads with the addition of a new and innovative truck for this purpose to its over 250-strong fleet – strengthening the municipality’s capacity to repair roads.

Kouga Executive Mayor, Horatio Hendricks, said a faulty refuse compactor procured in 2003, proved too expensive to repair, and was subsequently converted into a much-needed truck for slurry resealing purposes at a fraction of the repair cost.

The truck now boasts a flatbed setup with bins for premixed tar, fine gravel and a water tank, as well as a concrete mixer. It will be used mainly to slurry seal roads across the region within the next two weeks.

Investing in new and innovative technology

“The prolonged drought and continued implementation of load shedding by Eskom have necessitated the municipality to redirect funds and available resources towards critical drought mitigation projects, as well as a renewable energy strategy,” said Hendricks.

“It is, therefore, that we have taken it upon ourselves to find new and innovative ways to ensure basic service delivery continues for all residents, while investing in new technology – taking the municipality a step closer to becoming a Smart City.”

According to Hendricks, he will be the first to admit that the state of the roads in Kouga is simply not good enough – although great strides have been made over the last years.

“We will continue to endeavour to repair our roads one by one,” he said.

“The municipality is, furthermore, set to enter into an agreement with the Provincial Department of Transport for the transfer of Da Gama Road, St Francis Drive and Woltemade Street in Jeffreys Bay, and Main Road in Humansdorp to the municipality to manage and maintain these roads.

“We will continue to look for new and innovative ways to tackle the most pressing service delivery issues.”