Rehoboth council plans road equipment purchases and pothole repairs

The council plans to use 60% of its Road Fund Administration (RFA) allocation to purchase road-maintenance equipment, while the remaining 40% will be spent on pothole repairs and road markings.

Chief executive officer Ronald Windswaai said the council’s procurement committee was preparing the process and that a request for quotations was expected to be issued soon.

The total value of the RFA allocation and the anticipated cost of the equipment were not disclosed.

“We would rather look at the repair of potholes and road markings,” Windswaai said, adding that several roads also required proper markings.

The equipment under consideration includes a water truck, although the council has not provided a complete list of the machinery it plans to acquire or a timeframe for its delivery.

The matter was raised by a councillor who asked how far the council had progressed with acquiring the equipment and requested details of its road-maintenance programme.

The councillor said a clear implementation plan would allow councillors to inform residents where the maintenance work would begin and how it would progress.

Windswaai said the council already had longer-term road-upgrading plans dating back to the 2022/23 financial year.

The priority roads identified under those plans include Dr Hage Geingob Road, Luketz Swaarbooi Road, Church Street and Niklaas Olivier Street.

According to Windswaai, work on Luketz Swaarbooi Road has been completed, while Church Street was completed recently. He did not provide details about the scope or cost of the work, or updates on Dr Hage Geingob Road and Niklaas Olivier Street.

The council is also considering work on gravel roads in Blocks E and G as part of its broader infrastructure programme.

The proposed pothole-repair and road-marking programme is expected to address immediate maintenance needs while the council pursues its longer-term road-upgrading plans. However, no starting date or implementation schedule was provided.

Debt recovery

The road plans come as the council faces financial pressure and seeks to recover outstanding municipal debt.

Windswaai said management was implementing an arrears-recovery plan and considering stricter measures to improve revenue collection.

The council is exploring several approaches, including the possible appointment of a debt-collection company in the longer term. Windswaai said improved revenue collection was necessary for the council to continue providing services, although he acknowledged challenges involving staffing and debt recovery.

The amount owed to the council and the specific measures being considered were not disclosed.

The council also plans to conduct public-awareness initiatives encouraging residents to pay their municipal accounts consistently and approach the municipality when they experience difficulty settling their debts.

Its quarterly operational plans are still being implemented, with the current financial year in its first quarter. Further measures are expected to be considered during the second quarter.