If Johannesburg’s roads had birthdays, Pongola Street in Paulshof would need candles on its cake for a whole year of waiting. Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) was invited to the party, but unfortunately, the guest of honour was nowhere to be seen.

Ex-Ward 93 councillor Vino Reddy marked the first anniversary of unfinished road repairs in Pongola Street with a birthday celebration on October 28, after residents spent months navigating the damaged stretch following water pipe repairs by Johannesburg Water in December last year.

Reddy said he had invited JRA to attend the occasion, but no representatives arrived. Instead, he joined resident Fiona Cooper to raise a toast to a road that has seemingly outlasted several promised repair dates.

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“We’ve been going round the block to get to the house,” Cooper said, explaining how the damaged section had affected residents who could no longer use their shortest route.

The problem began when Johannesburg Water carried out repairs to a water pipe, after which the road was left in need of reinstatement. According to Reddy, the situation has been repeatedly raised with JRA, including through previous engagements and a video highlighting the condition of the road.

He said residents had been met with a series of explanations for the delays, including asphalt availability, staffing challenges and competing maintenance programmes.

“There’s been a litany of excuses,” Reddy said.

In June this year, JRA confirmed to Fourways Review that its technical team had identified and assessed the road defect. The agency attributed the delay to the prioritisation of critical maintenance activities across its network.

At the time, the agency said the road would be reinstated in July. However, the promised month came and went, leaving residents still waiting.

“The residents have been more than patient here. They are understanding, but I think the city is taking advantage of the care and understanding that our residents offer,” Reddy said.

“You can only understand for so much. And there comes a point when things just need to get done.”

Beyond the inconvenience, the damaged road has raised safety concerns, particularly at night when motorists may struggle to see the uneven surface.

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Cooper said vehicles had hit the damaged section after dark, while a single traffic cone offered little warning to approaching motorists. Reddy recalled an earlier visit when the road was considerably worse, saying he had nearly needed to switch to four-wheel-drive mode to negotiate the section.

Although it is not a major road, he said that did not justify leaving the damage unattended for so long. “We are leaving things for far too long. Things are not getting fixed. And it becomes part of the scenery,” he said.

The situation has become so familiar that Cooper had even considered planting a hedge beside the damaged section.

“It would have looked prettier,” Reddy joked.

In response to the ongoing issue, JRA’s head of regional operations Khaya Gqibitole said they are still experiencing logistical challenges that are affecting operations. “However, the concerns raised remain noted, and the roads will be attended to as soon as we are operationally able to dispatch a team. Unfortunately, we are still unable to provide a confirmed timeline for the repairs.”

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