Hluvukani — A community volunteer who for months has been filling potholes on the road linking Hluvukani to the Manyeleti Nature Reserve received a grocery hamper this week in recognition of his efforts to protect motorists and tourists travelling the route.
Practical repairs while waiting for authorities
Elvis Ubisi, currently unemployed, has used basic tools and materials to repair numerous holes in the road surface that residents say have been a persistent danger. His work has attracted praise from local motorists, visitors to the reserve and neighbours who rely on the route for daily travel and tourism-related business.
Management from the fuel company Super B visited Ubisi on Thursday and presented a grocery hamper as a token of appreciation. According to Eulender Nanni of Super B, the company’s manager saw a recent article about Ubisi and decided to acknowledge his commitment.
“After reading the piece about Elvis, our manager felt we should show our appreciation,”
Nanni said the company hoped the gesture would encourage him to continue his community service and that it served as a reminder that acts of kindness deserve recognition.
Local impact and personal relief
Ubisi told visitors he carried out the repairs to help motorists rather than for notoriety. He said the hamper would assist his family with food over the coming months. “I was fixing the potholes to help motorists in my area, not for fame. I am happy to see that people are recognising my efforts,” he said.
Residents and road users who regularly travel between Hluvukani and Manyeleti have repeatedly highlighted the deteriorating condition of local roads, which they say complicates access to tourism nodes and raises safety concerns. Tourists and local businesses rely on these routes; poor road conditions can increase vehicle damage, delay emergency response and deter visitors, with knock-on effects for local economies dependent on wildlife tourism.
Who has done what
- Volunteer: Elvis Ubisi — filled potholes using basic tools and materials.
- Recognition: Super B presented a grocery hamper after reading about his work.
- Community effect: Improved short-term safety and reduced immediate risk to motorists and tourists.
| Actor | Action | Item |
|---|---|---|
| Elvis Ubisi | Filled potholes on the Hluvukani–Manyeleti route | Labour and materials |
| Super B | Presented acknowledgement | Grocery hamper |
Broader questions about infrastructure and responsibility
While individual acts of civic responsibility provide immediate relief, they also underscore broader gaps in municipal infrastructure maintenance. Local residents said they were grateful for the short-term fixes but remain concerned that the road requires permanent, professionally carried-out repairs from the relevant authorities.
Community-led responses can reduce immediate hazards but are not a substitute for systematic maintenance by municipal roads departments or provincial agencies. Poor road conditions on routes serving nature reserves also raise questions about how infrastructure challenges may affect tourism receipts and local livelihoods over time.
Super B’s public acknowledgement of the volunteer effort has been framed by the company as both an expression of gratitude and an encouragement for continued community action. Eulender Nanni said the visit was intended to send a message that such efforts are appreciated.
Practical information for motorists
- Drivers using the Hluvukani–Manyeleti route should continue to exercise caution, particularly when travelling at night and during wet weather when potholes are less visible.
- Report severe road hazards to the local municipal roads office so they enter the official maintenance schedule.
- Keep emergency numbers and a charged mobile phone when travelling into rural areas near reserves.
For now, the recognition of this volunteer’s work has highlighted how local citizens and businesses can partner informally to reduce immediate risks, while drawing attention to the need for durable solutions from public authorities responsible for maintaining roads that serve both residents and the tourism sector.
Nomsa Mahlangu, Mpumalanga correspondent (Mbombela)
