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Driver fixes potholes himself

2010-03-11 10:32

Author: Sonja van Buul

 

Vanderbijlpark - Despite threats of arrest, a member of the National Taxpayers Union (NTU) has started fixing potholes on a road to his smallholding himself, saying they pose a danger to the lives of him and his family.

Pierre Bouwer, 54, a businessman from Vanderbijlpark and a committee member of the Vanderbijlpark NTU, started fixing potholes on the Stokkiesdraai Road, just outside the town, along with some of his workers on Wednesday.

"I'm fixing the potholes myself, because my family and I drive to and from our smallholding on this road at least seven times a day, and each time our lives are in danger."

Threatened with arrest

Mari Myburgh, chairperson of the local NTU, said she was threatened with arrest if they fix the potholes by themselves.

"Supposedly we don't have the expertise to do it alone, but Pierre has done his homework. He learned from the supplier of the material that one of the most important steps is to compact the base filler and tar," said Myburgh.

Bouwer said: "I'm not just filling the hole with soil to hide the problem.

"Rain water won't be flushing out these potholes so easily any more. I'll be giving lessons on Sunday afternoons," he joked.

He has challenged others to do the same.
 


 
verbaas
3/12/2010 11:38 AM
Wat 'n skande. Waar is die Munisipaliteit en die geld om die "potholes" te herstel? Nou word 'n belastingbetaler genoodsaak om self in te klim en iets te doen!Hy betaal dus nou 2 keer vir die Munisipaliteit en hulle wil hom arresteer?!Dankie Pierre dat jy iets doen om jou eiendom te beskerm.
smartass
3/12/2010 11:22 AM
Lol - M telling Astounded to take English lessons, we just need to vote these bumbling ANC okes out, THEY ARE GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER
Black Man
3/12/2010 10:22 AM
Well done Pierre Bouwer. The municipalities and the transport departments need to catch a wake-up.
astounded
3/12/2010 8:43 AM
@M U SEEM TO BE A BOARED LONELY PERSON. MAYBE YOU ARE JUST JELOUS YOU ARE STUCK IN THIS HOLE. AS A CRAPPY S.A. CITIZEN! AND BY THE WAY WE ARE GOING TO WALK AWAY WITH THE WORLD CUP TROPHY POOR BAFANA. U SOUTH AFRICAN BUM!
Jean-Pierre Bester
3/12/2010 8:31 AM
Nice one Ndlovu! LOL
Adri
3/12/2010 7:34 AM
This is the problem in this country.People doing good getting arrested and thiefs , murderers ect. running free. The world today is really sick.
kike
3/11/2010 7:58 PM
Since when does arrest equals punishment? This sounds a bit african to me. Where people are "arrested" because you are not happy with them - never mind if they have done anything specific against the law.
Magno
3/11/2010 7:12 PM
Was listening to the radio, they were talking about Jub Jub going to be accused of murder. He was a pri k and four innocent kids have lost their lives ! How many lives have been lost in SA because of the sorry state of our roads and the completely thick drivers that abuse us all. I happen to be a motorbike rider, and every day I take my life in my hands trying to avoid potholes, some taxis and lots of crazy drivers. What would happen if 20% of car drivers converted to riding motorbikes ... the traffic would ease considerably but bigger hospitals would have to be built ! Not a laughing matter though, government, take responsibility and fix our roads and transport system. The next time someone swerves and has an accident because of potholes they should sue the road agency for negligence !
Snotklap
3/11/2010 4:27 PM
Dis stupid om self die pot holes reg te maak . Ek betaal mos my swaarverdiende belasting!!!!
Jean-Pierre Bester
3/11/2010 3:55 PM
@Mr. BMW 16 - People buy "crappy cars" because that's what they can afford at this stage. Stop looking down on other people's car choices, not all of them can afford a BMW.
Ndlovu
3/11/2010 3:48 PM
DAVID UK, the difference is in the UK they fix the potholes and maintain the roads as well as other infrastructure. Did you know there is no word for maintenance in most African languages. A foreign western concept. They only fix when "she is broke"
M
3/11/2010 2:46 PM
Wake up Astounded (and get english lessons before migrating to the UK). Zuma will not do anything about this - he is just another Fat Cat that lives a luxurary life while the rest of the country pay for him to sleep around. Our money enables him and his cabinet get away with rasist comments, public hate speach and criminal behaviour. They want the white people to leave. Helen Ziller said today that the ANC is scared of Julius Malema. I don't agree - I think they just couldn't care less, as long as they can drink, drive, and waste money. I'm glad that the WC 2010 is finally here. Now the world can see first hand the circus they call SA democracy and 'freedom'.
Mr. BMW I6
3/11/2010 1:41 PM
All I can say: People get the Government they voted for. Arrest? that would be worser by several magnitudes than the apartheid regime. SA citizens are sheeple by numbers, look at the crappy cars they buy in droves.
David UK
3/11/2010 1:21 PM
I live in the UK and this bloke definitely would have been arrested for beaking health and safety rules and for not having the necessary qualifications. It is not just in SA that the authorities are a bunch of idiots. The UK is probably even more of a police state.
gti
3/11/2010 1:18 PM
I've got respect for this guy! How can they arrest him for trying to do something good. Something the goverment cant do! This is something not even Chuck Norris would do...
Pete
3/11/2010 1:07 PM
ANC government...useless like the rest of Africa
switch
3/11/2010 1:00 PM
Our gov is too busy fixing the potholes in there pockets before the potholes in the street.Julius is probably waiting to score another tender for his construction company.
kike
3/11/2010 12:24 PM
Arrest? What a disgrace! He should be given discount on his next rates bill as well as a letter of acknowledgement. What else should he do - through stones like the rest? On a road I use I saw a guy poaring readymix cement from the local Mica into a pothole in front of his house. He's my hero.
astounded
3/11/2010 11:26 AM
this irritates me so much! why doesent the munisipality fix it then? this man will probably fix the pot holes better anyway. our roads and country for that matter is in a sorry state. we will be a huge embarrasment when all the internationals arive for the world cup. i am on my way out of this hole, im leaving for the uk. i cant stand the cops mentality or the govt. attitude. we are all suffering here. i spent R6200 on two new tyres this year due to pot holes. wake up zuma and do something about it
Jean-Pierre Bester
3/11/2010 10:43 AM
It's a similar pothole that damaged my car, both tyres in front, one mag written off, and my suspensions got damaged. Government are too damn useless to fix it, or are just very ignorant about the safety aspect of such a pothole. Threatened with arrest? What do they expect us to do if they won't fix it??

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