Transport minister Fikile Mbalula was dragged by many on social media this week for his response to radio host Anele Mdoda’s complaints about potholes.
Anele took to Twitter on Thursday to complain that a pothole had “taken out” two of her tyres.
“This is getting annoying,” she wrote, tagging the minister.
City of joburg my sister
— FIKILE MBALULA | MR FIX (@MbalulaFikile) March 24, 2022
While many felt her pain and shared their own experiences with potholes, Mbalula responded by seemingly directing her to the Johannesburg Roads Agency.
He followed it with a request for Anele to DM him.
Send me DM
— FIKILE MBALULA | MR FIX (@MbalulaFikile) March 24, 2022
His short responses were criticised by some who felt, as minister, he should get more information about the pothole and make the agency aware of the issue. Others defended the minister, saying his request for Anele to send him a DM was taking it forward.
Can I also send you a Dm? It’s been over a year now busy reporting this to tshwane municipality. The road is even worse now, yet we pay rates and taxes month in and out https://t.co/DMaAayVSOI
— Gugu Sibiya (@shazylov) March 24, 2022
The debate about the minister and his department’s response to the state of SA roads continued.
Your point is interesting, I would like to know also why is the minister referring the lady to COJ without even establishing which road the lady was travelling on when the said incident occurred, I believe if it's devided into 3 the it would b necessary to know Which road it was
— Tumelo Manoto (@ManotoTumelo) March 24, 2022
