Residents in Brackenhurst, Alberton, are once again calling on the City of Ekurhuleni to urgently address dangerous potholes along Koedoe Street, following years of complaints and what they describe as incomplete repair work.

Local resident Mario Dos Santos said that he has been reporting the deteriorating condition of the road for more than three years, warning that the situation has become increasingly hazardous for motorists and pedestrians, especially during rainy weather.

According to Dos Santos, the problem is made worse by non-functional street lights, which leave potholes hidden beneath rainwater at night.

“Motorists have sustained vehicle damage on multiple occasions, and one delivery rider even fell and required hospital treatment after hitting a pothole. His motorbike, which was his only source of income to support his family, was severely damaged,” he said.

Correspondence seen by the Alberton Record reveals a long trail of complaints sent to municipal officials and ward councillors dating back to 2024.

In several responses, residents were assured that repair teams would attend to the road or return to complete outstanding work.

A municipal team reportedly began repair work in March this year but halted operations due to light rain before the potholes could be properly sealed.

Residents claim that the temporary gravel filling has since washed away, leaving the road in an even worse condition.

In a follow-up email sent in April, Dos Santos described the road’s condition as critical, warning that the potholes had expanded significantly and now posed an immediate risk to vehicles and public safety.

The concerns in Brackenhurst mirror wider infrastructure challenges across Alberton and surrounding industrial areas such as Alrode, where deteriorating roads and deep potholes have become a growing source of frustration for residents, businesses and motorists.

Ward 94 Clr Samantha Nair previously acknowledged that heavy rainfall has worsened already fragile road conditions across the region, reopening previously patched sections and exposing deeper potholes on key routes.

Businesses operating in Alrode have also raised concerns over vehicle damage, delayed deliveries and worsening logistics caused by deteriorating roads.

Adding to residents’ frustration, a recent communication from Ward 37 councillor Ivan Naidoo stated that pothole repairs had stalled because the municipality currently had no tar available, and a service provider had allegedly halted supply due to non-payment.

The City of Ekurhuleni has been contacted for comment regarding the ongoing delays in repairs to Koedoe Street and the broader pothole crisis affecting parts of Alberton.

At the time of publication, no response had been received.

For now, motorists using Koedoe Street and other affected roads in Alberton are being urged to exercise extreme caution, particularly during wet weather and at night when visibility is poor.

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