Johannesburg’s roads crisis leaves residents in despair

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13-03-2025
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Northcliff Melville Times
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With commuting still a problem with potholes and reinstatements that have not been done by ,Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), residents are still left with frustrations as to whether they will get fixed or not.

Phillip Hoffmann, a pave engineer, expressed significant frustrations regarding Johannesburg Roads Agency’s (JRA) overdue reinstatements, which have caused frustrations among road users.

He highlighted that JRA failed to reinstate road excavations or fix potholes, which has led to community members taking matters into their own hands to address pothole repairs.

Specifically, he noted that excavations at the corners of 6th and Kessel roads, as well as 4th and Kessel roads, which were conducted in April 2024, remain unrepaired nearly a year later.

Ward 98 councillor Beverley Jacobs echoed Hoffman’s sentiments, stating that JRA is struggling with budget constraints and is not functioning optimally. “They need to stop working in silos, and the system they have in place is not optimal.”

She criticised the lack of communication and collaboration between JRA and Johannesburg Water (JW), which has resulted in backlogs and inefficiencies in addressing potholes and reinstatements.

Jacobs emphasised that stronger leadership is needed to improve the situation.In response to the ongoing issues,

JRA’s regional head of operations Khaya Gqibitole acknowledged that while the agency aims to repair reported potholes within 14 days, challenges such as rapidly aging infrastructure and budget limitations often delay these repairs. “JRA is currently running a reinstatement programme to address the backlog of reinstatements, with plans to complete the outstanding work.”

The ongoing delays in reinstatements and pothole repairs have left residents feeling frustrated and concerned about the implications for property values and overall safety.

Hoffmann articulated that seeing unrepaired reinstatements during commutes is disheartening, reflecting a broader failure of municipal services in Johannesburg.

The situation surrounding JRA’s handling of road maintenance is critical, with residents calling for immediate action and improved management to restore functionality and safety to Johannesburg’s roads.