Councillors and residents slam JRA’s response to potholes in Fourways
Residents and ward councillors are not happy with how the road agency is handling the issue of potholes in the Fourways areas.
Jessica Gardens, a fed-up resident of Chartwell, has been on a mission to get the attention of Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) to repair the numerous potholes on Cedar and Uranium roads in Fourways, along with other roads in the area.
Despite her tireless efforts, Gardens has been met with silence. She has tried every avenue to report the issue, from commenting on Facebook posts about potholes the road agency has repaired in other areas, to sending countless emails that have bounced back and making fruitless phone calls to JRA.
As someone who works from home, but frequently finds herself driving on the roads for errands, Gardens knows firsthand the hazards posed by the potholes. “It’s not just an inconvenience; it’s a safety risk. I’m worried about damaging my car, or worse, getting into an accident.”
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Gardens admits she’s at her wits’ end. “I don’t even know who my ward councillor is, so, I did not report it to him. I’ve tried contacting the pothole patrols, but they can only do so much. I’m pleading with JRA to take action and fix these potholes. It’s frustrating to have to constantly dodge them while driving.”
Ward 94 councillor David Foley admits that the potholes are an issue in the area. He said the one on Cedar and Uranium roads was opened by Johannesburg Water (JW) to repair a pipe that keeps on leaking.
“Because it is a provincial road, the Gauteng Roads and Transport Department refused to repair the pothole, because it was dug by JW. I spoke to the team and they promised to fix it but because of the recent rains they couldn’t. You can’t repair a pothole on wet soil.”
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Foley added that at times residents are forced to step in. “There is a pothole at the corner of Lonehill Boulevard and Main Road. It was huge, so, I asked residents to temporarily fill it with sand.”
Ward 96 councillor Rufas Maswazi said he is not happy with JRA, as well as JW. He said he reported the potholes in Chartwell, but is still waiting for a maintenance plan from the road agency.
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“It is, in fact, the whole ward that has potholes. This includes the entrance to my complex. I reported them a long time ago, but when I follow up I’m told about the rain. I do not know if that is an excuse, or is the truth, because we know that the bulk resides with them. If I had the equipment, and permission, there would never be a pothole in my ward,” said Maswazi.
When reached out for comment, Kelebogile Mafa, from JRA, promised to revert with more information. However, none was received at the time we went to print.
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