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Lack of tarred roads leads to death in suburb

"FIVE years ago my husband died because ambulances could not get to him. Three ambulances became stuck in the mud," Penny Mokoena, of Leachville in Benoni, Ekurhuleni, said.

Mokoena is part of community meetings at which residents have been expressing anger at the lack of service delivery in the area, such as lack of muddy dirt roads, lack phone lines, water hydrants and other facilities.

"Does the municipality want another person to die in front of their eyes before they tar the roads in this area," Mokoena asked as she pointed out the area the emergency vehicles could not cross about 60 metres from her house.

"We watched a house burn down not so because there was not water hydrants in the area," Rodgers Khosa said.

Monica Sikhosana said: "We have police officers living here and they tell us they cannot patrol their own community because their cars get stuck in the mud."

"There is no clinic or school here. It is as if we are not on the map," Tholakele Hlophe echoed.

"We are aware of the concerns of the community but we cannot provide services to all communities at the same time," spokesman for Ekurhuleni municipality Zweli Dlamini said. "So we ask our people to be patient. There is a plan for the area. The construction of roads will start as resources are made available."

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