According to the SAnews.gov.za website the Mpumalanga Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport will rehabilitate the deteriorated R36 between Machadodorp and Mashishing (formerly Lydenburg) in Mpumalanga.

Dumisani Malamule, department spokesman says, “Much maintenance have been done on the road, but the large number of heavy trucks from various mines that use the road have contributed to the deterioration of the road.”

“The road has now deteriorated to the point where patching is not a feasible option anymore, but rehabilitation is required.”

Malamulele adds, “Government will make all efforts to ensure the rehabilitation of the road and that it will be done in the 2014/15 financial year.”

This stretch of road was in the news recently when a teacher in the town of Mashishing, Katie Morrison stripped down and posed for photos where she is taking a bath in a muddy pothole.

“That pothole is big enough so that atleast five people can bath in it,” said owner of Lydenburg Guest Farm, Alison Botha.

Botha and one of her volunteer teachers at the school she runs, Rosie Morrison, came up with the idea to show the world how bad the roads in and around the town truly is.

Speaking to the media after the photo shoot Botha said, “This specific road, the R36 between Machadodorp and Mashishing has been unusable for years now and it is mainly because there are 40 ton trucks that make use of the road every day. It is not their responsibility to fix the road, it is that of government.”