Wavy road markings make drivers do a double-take
Motorists will be forgiven for thinking there's something wrong with their eyesight.
Is it a sign that you urgently need to see an optometrist or a sign of the municipality’s incompetence?
Motorists travelling along Rembrandt van Rijn Street in Van Eck Park – which becomes Lower Road as you head towards Minnebron – will be forgiven for thinking there’s something wrong with their eyesight after crooked and wavy markings were painted on the road.
According to DA ward councillor for the area, Stefanie Ueckermann, the markings are the result of poor workmanship by contractors.
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“At a service delivery meeting on November 15, the department (roads and stormwater) confirmed there is a 45 per cent labour shortage at the depot,” she said.
“The depot in Brakpan also serves Tsakane and Langaville with a very small team of people doing what they can with the resources they have.
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“All three teams are operating from one truck to fill potholes and there are no teams available to do road markings or anything like that, so they are using outside contractors.
“The procurement system in Ekurhuleni is done in a very closed manner, so we will be investigating who got this contract and whether they were qualified to obtain it.”
Contrary to Ueckermann, the municipality has placed the blame on a faulty road marking machine.
City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Themba Gadebe told the Herald the municipality recently purchased a new machine, which was found to be defective.
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“It was discovered the machine was not working properly when the road maintenance team conducted road markings on site,” he said.
“The supplier was informed of the malfunctioning of the machine and since the machine is still under warranty, it will be replaced or fixed.”
Gadebe added that proper road markings would be painted this week.
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