Residents of Maromeng and Rooiboklaagte marched peacefully to Acornhoek SAPS on Monday, 16 March, demanding urgent action from the Mpumalanga Provincial Government over long-standing infrastructure promises.

The march was organised by the Maromeng and Rooiboklaagte Communities Committee, which handed a memorandum to the Head of Department for Public Works, Roads and Transport, Morake Charles Morolo, on behalf of Premier Mandla Ndlovu.

Community leaders say the march follows years of unfulfilled commitments affecting residents in the two Bushbuckridge villages.

According to the committee, the struggle dates back to 2004 when the Mpumalanga Legislature allegedly promised the construction of two clinics and bridges in Rooiboklaagte A and B. Residents complain that projects were never implemented.

The community also expressed concerns over a supposed R15 million commitment in the 2012/13 Integrated Development Plan (IDP), which they claim was intended for bridges and road infrastructure but was never spent.

A major point of frustration is the 12.37-kilometre Champagne Road (D3940/D3949), which connects Maromeng Village to Champagne Citrus Farm and serves as a key route for residents travelling to schools, clinics and workplaces.

Community representatives say the road becomes nearly impassable during the rainy season, leaving ambulances unable to reach patients and learners struggling to attend school.

In January 2023, Premier Mandla Ndlovu, who was then the MEC for Public Works, Roads and Transport, reportedly assured residents during a public meeting that the Champagne Road project would be included in the provincial development plans and that visible progress would be seen within 12 months.

However, the community says the January 2024 deadline passed without any work beginning.

According to the committee, engineers were only appointed around July 2025, more than two years after the promise was made, and the project currently remains in the design phase.

Residents say the situation has left thousands of people isolated and frustrated.

The community has requested documentation of a secured budget for the full road project, a defined construction timeframe, and quick interim measures such as grading and gravel placement until construction designs are finalised.

Community leaders emphasised that the protest was peaceful and conducted within the law. However, they warned that failure to comply with their demands could lead to further action, including escalating the matter to oversight bodies and exploring other legal options.