Residents to petition JRA to rehabilitate road

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06-03-2025
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Roodepoort Record
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Residents of Cypress Road are pleading with JRA to intervene and restore the gravel road to a safe a drivable condition.

Anxious residents of Cypress Road prompted a petition to the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) to rehabilitate their road, which has been plagued by numerous issues over the years.

The road, which has been in a state of disrepair, poses a significant hazard to drivers and pedestrians alike. According to resident Shirley Bosman, motorists have reported difficulties navigating the uneven and gravel road, while others are perturbed about the safety implications of exposed cables and damaged pipelines.

They also had meetings with Ward 97 councillor Jacques Hoon regarding this issue.

“The current state of Cypress Road is so horrible that it is impossible to drive there. We have tried to address the issue through various channels, but our concerns have fallen on deaf ears. Additionally, we tried to arrange a meeting with JRA to have them come and inspect our road, but our efforts were unsuccessful,” Bosman explained.

One of the primary concerns for the residents is the prevalence of cable theft, which has resulted in frequent power outages and exposed cables on the roads. Despite their efforts to secure the area, residents claim that the lack of adequate infrastructure and maintenance has created an environment conducive to crime.

Furthermore, the damaged pipelines have caused water erosion, compromising the integrity of the road as well as damaging the paving in people’s driveways as well as the foundations of their homes, as some of the water flows into their properties frequently. This has resulted in costly repairs for residents, who have been forced to take matters into their own hands to maintain their properties.

“Unfortunately, people can only do so much, and with our rates being switched from agricultural to residential, it’s difficult to keep up financially. So residents are forced to sell their properties and move because they can no longer afford to live and maintain the area. We have tried to tar the road ourselves, but it’s a temporary solution at best,” she added.

Residents have resorted to petitioning the JRA to intervene and provide a comprehensive solution to the problems plaguing Cypress Road and are calling for the road to be tarred and restored, as well as for measures to be taken to address the underlying issues contributing to the road’s deterioration.

“JRA informed us that the petition is meant to be written by Hoon, which we are still waiting for. We have logged in many calls for JRA and written numerous letters for action to be taken,” Bosman said.

The Roodepoort Northsider contacted JRA , and sent questions to Clr Hoon for comment, and a response will be given in a follow-up article.