When it comes to fixing roads, Ward 94 councillor David Foley has taken the phrase: ‘Getting things done’, literally.

From potholes to reckless driving, Foley has spent much of 2025 tackling the issues that affect residents’ daily commutes, often by rolling up his sleeves and standing right where the problems occur.

At the beginning of the year, residents of Broadacres will remember the state of Richard and Bushwillow roads, riddled with potholes, plagued by recurring water leaks, and nearly impassable after heavy rains.

Read more: While Ward 115 has been lucky, water and sewer issues still plague Johannesburg

Foley was among the first to call for urgent intervention from Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), following months of resident complaints. His persistence paid off, when JRA not only resurfaced the roads; they attended to underlying maintenance concerns, restoring smoother and safer travel for motorists.

“Road safety, and the protection of resident’s vehicles, are a priority, so every effort must be made to ensure that is achieved,” said Foley. “I am very happy that this issue was resolved, although it did take a few months for finality with the different city entities.”

Foley also managed a successful appeal earlier in the year to have the management of local traffic lights handed back from the Gauteng Roads and Traffic Department to JRA – a move aimed at improving response times and accountability when signals malfunctioned, but it hasn’t only been about paperwork and calls to departments.

Later in the year, Foley took matters into his own hands, quite literally, when he physically intervened to stop taxi drivers from using pedestrian sidewalks along Winnie Mandela Drive. “I am overwhelmed by the support of everyone in this regard.

We really need to protect our pedestrians and cyclists, as much as possible, and not allow a few rogue individuals to make life unbearable through their lawless behaviour.”

The issue had become a sore point for residents, after reports of taxis driving on pavements. More alarmingly, it resulted in an incident where a cyclist was knocked over by one of the vehicles encroaching on the cycling lane.

The taxi incidents sparked wider community action, with residents reportedly jotting down number plates of offending drivers and forwarding them to the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD).

While the local taxi association acknowledged residents’ frustration, they stated they had not received any formal complaints. They did, however, encourage the public to continue reporting reckless drivers through the proper channels.

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Foley’s focus on safer roads didn’t stop there. He raised concerns about damaged or missing signage along key routes, including Bushwillow Road in Broadacres and Cedar Road, where an information road sign was allegedly knocked down by a speeding motorist.

He also questioned the quality and durability of road paint used for markings, pointing out that some faded within weeks of being applied.

“2026 will be more of the same, but we all need to look at the root cause, and not just treat the symptoms. A classic example is the installation of fuel runoff channels, at the Lonehill Engen petrol station, into underground separation tanks, instead of onto the JRA road, which damaged the tar. This is true collaboration and problem solving.”

Throughout 2025, Foley has remained one of the more visible and vocal ward councillors, often spotted inspecting roads himself, or engaging directly with JRA and JMPD officials.

His approach, while sometimes unconventional, has drawn appreciation from residents, who say they value seeing their councillor actively present and responsive.

“The year has flown by so quickly, as has every other year, but its the successes that motivate us to continue. Wishing all residents, businesses, and city officials a blessed Christmas and a very happy new year.”

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