Alrode South businesses step in where Ekurhuleni fails
Fed up with over a decade of neglect, a coalition of Alrode South businesses has taken service delivery into their own hands, fixing potholes, mowing overgrown grass, and repairing infrastructure, all while the City of Ekurhuleni continues to fall short.
In a bold act of unity and frustration, 27 businesses in Alrode South launched a campaign, Better Alrode South, to reclaim and revive their decaying business hub, citing years of neglect by the City of Ekurhuleni.
What began last year as a R5000-per-business initiative to fix dangerous potholes – some of which have plagued the area for over a decade – has now snowballed into a full-scale infrastructure rejuvenation project.
As potholes were patched and results became visible, more local businesses joined the cause, expanding efforts beyond just road repair.
The Better Alrode South has since expanded to cover smaller potholes, grass cutting, pavement repairs, and even aesthetic improvements to the area.
This month, businesses have been cutting overgrown grass, an eyesore and potential safety hazard, which had been left unchecked since the festive season.
The campaign’s growth has been marked not just by financial contributions but by resource sharing.
One company, seeing vandalised pavements, offered to fix them independently. Another has dedicated equipment and staff to ongoing grass mowing.
The local ward councillor, Samantha Nair, who has supported the initiative, confirmed that she had submitted multiple requests to municipal departments, but with no success.
“The response I received from Alberton Roads Depot was that their fleet is limited and the rain has caused delays. But how can that be a valid excuse for issues that have existed for over ten years?” Samantha asked.
The explanation has left many in the area questioning the city’s priorities and capacity.
A growing question of accountability
While the councillor has praised the businesses for stepping up, the broader concern remains: Why have essential services fallen into the hands of private citizens?
The city’s lack of responsiveness, coupled with flimsy explanations around resource shortages and rain, has triggered doubts about governance, budget management, and accountability.
For now, Alrode South’s business community is showing what can be achieved when action replaces waiting but it’s also highlighting a deeply worrying collapse in local service delivery.
As one business owner summed it up: “We didn’t want to become the government but it looks like someone had to do the job.”
ALSO READ: Persistent rainfall hampers Alrode South’s pothole repair efforts
