JRA knows Farmall residents want repairs and maintenance
Farmall residents are increasingly frustrated as their roads become impassable, unsafe, and neglected, while JRA is aware of the condition, but seems to be powerless to do anything about it.
“Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) is fully aware of the current conditions of the roads in the Farmall area,” said JRA head of Department Regional Operations Khayalethu Gqibitole.
This was after residents living in and around the Farmall area voiced their frustration over the deplorable state of their roads, which have become almost impassable and pose serious safety risks.
Rosalee Nel expressed her deep disappointment and growing frustration with the lack of basic services for the Farmall community, despite the significant monthly property taxes and levies they pay. “On May 22, we were suppose to meet with our ward councillor, Rufus Maswazi, and JRA to discuss the plans they have to fix the roads. Only to be told via email, on May 18 at 23:38, that the meeting was move to May 19. Most residents, myself included, only saw the email after the meeting.
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“To make matters worse, a composting site was established within 1km of our home. While intended for garden refuse, this yard is now a magnet for indiscriminate dumping – building rubble, black bags of general waste, and other refuse are frequently dumped along our roadsides. When the site is closed, trucks offload their full loads directly in the street.
“The state of our roads is dire. In the past year, only one grading was done, during the rainy season, which worsened the situation due to a lack of compaction. A water leak has been running unchecked for over four years. The danger and damage this all causes is unacceptable.”
Maswazi confirmed to the Fourways Review that the meeting was indeed moved, last minute, by JRA from May 22 to May 19. He also shared that there wasn’t much discussed during the meeting, as they drove around with the team from JRA to inspect the area. “JRA said that this is not something they will do overnight, but it’s something they are working on, and promise to start maybe around August.”
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Nel added that communications sent to JRA and the councillor about the situation have gone unanswered, leaving residents feeling abandoned. “This has been going on for years, and we understand that it’s not something they can do over night, but we are being pushed from pillar to post, with no actual sign of intervention and no real response from our actual ward councillor.”
On May 22, Nel, on behalf of residents living in Farmall, invited the Fourways Review, as well as the ward councillor, to come and see the state of the road they are forced to navigate every day. Maswazi didn’t make it to the meeting, with no communication with Nel or the Fourways Review.
To the Fourways Review, Gqibitole explained that gravel roads nearby have regular maintenance. “The depot has an established maintenance programme which ensures continuous upkeep. It regularly blades, re-compacts, where necessary, and addresses localised drainage issues to maintain drivability and reduce deterioration that weather and traffic cause.
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“JRA follows a scheduled programme of grading with maintenance of gravel roads to ensure consistent accessibility, especially after adverse weather, for instance. These efforts are aimed at maintaining safe and reliable access for residents, along with motorists.”
Farmall residents are increasingly frustrated as their roads become impassable, unsafe, and neglected, while JRA is aware of the condition, but seems to be powerless to do anything about it.
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