ABERDEEN NEWS - Members of Aberdeen’s farming community are up in arms at the state of the roads leading to the roadblock on the R61 just outside the town.

Over the last week, the litter at the sides of the roads has been mounting at an alarming rate, and as well as a sea of plastic bottles and packaging materials, a river of toilet paper and associated waste can now be seen.

There are five portable toilet cubicles at the site of the roadblock, but these are for the use of those working at the site. 

Penny Farthing Engineering donated some of these, but is not able to provide maintenance - this has been subcontracted locally. The main problem occurs along the R61, as the queue of vehicles often stretches back well over a kilometre. 

No toilet facilities are provided for the drivers and passengers, many of whom have to wait for up to 12 hours.

Even when the litter is cleaned up from the sides of the main road, nothing is done along the gravel road leading off to Palmietfontein and De Kust. Clive Nel, site agent for Penny Farthing, explained that the gravel road is the responsibility of the municipality. 

“We have been cleaning the R61 on a regular basis, but so many vehicles are stuck at the roadblock every night that it is a never-ending task,” Nel admitted.

Since a member of SAPS working at the checkpoint tested positive for Covid-19, Nel has been instructed that employees cleaning the area must have full personal protective equipment. This has been ordered, but until it arrives, the litter is piling up. Twenty drums have also been ordered, to be placed along the road for litter where the vehicles queue. Once these drums are in place, police will enforce fines for littering.

The Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality refused to comment about the unsanitary conditions along the roads.

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