Residents in parts of Ward 93 are increasingly frustrated with deteriorating road conditions.

Their local councillor, Vino Reddy, is warning that delayed maintenance is putting motorists at risk, and damaging vehicles. Reddy said repeated requests for road repairs have often gone unanswered, with city teams unable to attend to some complaints due to operational challenges.

According to Reddy, one of the issues affecting road maintenance teams is a lack of water in certain areas, which makes it difficult for crews to carry out repairs.

Read more: Broadacres residents alarmed by alleged JRA contractor dumping along Lombardy Road

He said, in other cases, teams have been redirected to other programmes run by the office of the member of the mayoral committee, leaving fewer resources available to address problems within the ward.

Reddy believes this has resulted in residents not receiving the level of service required to keep roads safe and drivable. “I understand that the entire city has issues, but we need our teams to be deployed in our ward so that the roads can be made drivable.”

Reddy said he recently experienced the impact of the deteriorating roads firsthand, after hitting a pothole and suffering a puncture, forcing him to change his tyre on the side of the road. He added that many residents are facing similar problems, as potholes continue to damage tyres and rims. “This is the same situation that many residents are experiencing, and we need to avoid that. We need to make our roads safe for people to drive.”

Reddy also warned that poor lighting in some areas makes the situation worse, as drivers often struggle to see potholes at night. Water-filled potholes pose an additional danger, as motorists cannot easily judge their depth.

One of the roads highlighted by the councillor is Dennis Road, which he says has been a long-standing concern for residents. He has been advocating for improvements to the road since he became councillor in 2021. He described the road as a narrow but important arterial route that is in poor condition and suffers from drainage problems and high groundwater levels.

Also read: Peltier intersection traffic light reinstated and approved as safe by JRA

Although a new storm water system was installed two years ago, Reddy said key inlets were never added. As a result, groundwater and storm water continue to flow onto the road, with water sometimes running toward nearby homes. He said one house, located on a bend along the road, is particularly vulnerable, with residents living in constant fear that their home could be flooded.

The issue has been raised multiple times with the City of Johannesburg, the regional administration, and Johannesburg Roads Agency, but Reddy says the response has often been that there is no available budget.

He said officials have told him the road cannot simply be resurfaced because of its poor condition. Instead, it would need to be fully rebuilt, including regrading, widening the roadway, installing curbs and pavements, and improving the storm water drainage system. “These residents cannot live like this forever. Motorists should not have to worry about constant vehicle damage or navigating dangerous roads.”

Reddy is now urging the city to prioritise funding and resources to address the long-standing problems affecting Dennis Road and other roads in the ward.

Bertha Scheepers, from the roads agency, was reached out to for comment on March 13, with a deadline of March 16 at 12:00. She said: “Thank you for your enquiry. Your deadline does not give us much time, but we will try our best.” Unfortunately, at the time of print they had not managed to revert.

Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!