Jan Kempdorp roads reopened after taxi protest

ROADS that were blockaded by taxi operators in Jan Kempdorp on Monday were reopened in the late afternoon following a protest over the poor state of the roads and overflowing sewage in the Phokwane municipal areat.

Traffic was disrupted from the bridge and five access roads leading into the town from 6am on Monday, while matric pupils were supposed to start their final exams. However, taxi operators later allowed matric pupils access to their exam venues.

A meeting took place between the Phokwane mayor, municipal manager, acting director of corporate services, and representatives from the departments of Education and Public Works, along with taxi operators.

Phokwane FF+ councillor Rickus te Baerts said pupils were offered counselling before they wrote their exams.

Te Baerts added that he was unsuccessful in his efforts to persuade the municipal public accounts committee to investigate alleged inflated tenders for various goods and services, including the replacement of sewage pipes that have not been installed and the construction of a non-existent sports field.

“An amount of R250,000 was paid for water tankering services, while the cost should be around R80,000,” he stated.

The Phokwane municipality had not responded to media enquiries by the time of publication.

SAPS provincial spokesperson Sergeant Molefi Shemane said the Jan Kempdorp SAPS and Kimberley Public Order Police were monitoring the situation after the roads from the township leading into Jan Kempdorp town were blocked by taxi association vehicles on Monday.

“All the affected roads have been reopened for the public,” said Shemane. “No incident of public violence or damage of property has been reported, and no learning has been disrupted.”