DUSTYROADSAREASDUSTY ROADS

Lindiwe Mashiane

By: Lindiwe Matshiane

DUSTYROADSAREASDUSTY ROADS
Mkokotlong is a section in Mhluzi suburb, which is in Middelburg Town under Steve Tshwete
Municipality in Mpumalanga Province. Dusty roads are not good in the current situation. We
grew up in rural areas and townships full of dusty roads. During those days, even if there was
dust, we were not getting sick easily because the environment was natural without any toxic
dust.
Here in Mhluzi at Mkokoktlong, streets are not tarred, which is a challenge, especially when it’s
windy. The toxic dust it’s got duff that comes out from coal as we’re surrounded by the mines.
The Steve Tshwete municipality is supposed to put infrastructure before it can open a new
settlement. At least it becomes better when it rains, as this dust is suppressed.
People who sell food along the sides of the road are also facing toxic dust. Its environment is
unhealthy, as some people might spit on the ground, and when it’s windy, their food products
are affected because people can contract diseases and get sick. That’s why, at some point, they
had to throw away certain products that they sold, which resulted in a loss of income.
It was raised in the ward meetings that municipalities need to speed up the process of putting
tar on those roads from new settlements that include Mkokoktlong.