By: The Youth Voice Reporter
Residents of Maromeng and Rooiboklaagte villages in Bushbuckridge staged a peaceful march on Monday, 16 March 2026, demanding urgent action on the long-promised upgrade of Champagne Road.
Community members gathered and marched to the Acornhoek SAPS station where they handed over a follow-up memorandum of demands to provincial officials.
According to the Maromeng and Rooiboklaagte Communities Committee, the march was organised after the provincial government allegedly failed to respond to an earlier memorandum submitted on 13 February 2026.
Community leaders say the previous document contained clear deadlines for government to respond, but no acknowledgement or action followed.
Residents say the issue dates back to January 2023 when Premier Ndlovu, then MEC for Public Works, Roads and Transport, visited Maromeng Village and promised that the Champagne Road project would be included in the 2024/25 Integrated Development Plan.
At the time, community members were told that funding would be allocated, the road would be regularly graded and visible progress would be seen by January 2024.
Champagne Road (D3940 / D3949) stretches about 12.37 kilometres between the villages and becomes extremely difficult to use during the rainy season.
They claim children struggle to get to school, ambulances battle to reach patients, and businesses and workers face serious travel difficulties.
The community is also demanding that the Department of Public Works publish a binding construction timeline within 14 days, outlining when the design phase will be completed, when tenders will be awarded and when construction will begin.
Other demands include emergency grading of the road, monthly maintenance until construction begins, and the establishment of a community liaison committee to monitor the project.
Despite their frustration, community leaders emphasised that Monday’s march was peaceful and conducted in accordance with the law.
They say the community remains open to dialogue with government.
However, residents warned that failure to respond to the memorandum could lead to further escalation, including complaints to the Public Protector South Africa, the South African Human Rights Commission, legal action and further lawful protests.
Community representatives say the people of Maromeng and Rooiboklaagte are simply demanding that a promise made to them be honoured.