Bushwillow Road done, Pine Road next, but when?

Residents of Ward 96 are getting increasingly frustrated by the prolonged delay in resurfacing Pine Road, particularly near the Bushwillow intersection, despite multiple follow-ups and public complaints.

According to ward councillor Rufas Maswazi, the matter has been escalated repeatedly over the past four months, but residents are yet to see meaningful progress.

He said, during a follow-up engagement on July 12, a representative from the road maintenance team reiterated the city’s commitment to resurfacing Pine Road, noting a further estimated delay of two weeks, however, no clear timeline has been officially confirmed.

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JRA’s regional operations manager Khayalethu Gqibitole confirmed that Pine Road is scheduled for resurfacing during this financial year. “While the final resurfacing plan is yet to be finalised, the depot will patch potholes in the interim, to ensure the road remains drivable.”

He added that recent resurfacing had been completed on nearby Bushwillow and Richard roads, and assured residents that Pine Road: “Remains a priority on our list.”

Addressing concerns about the four-month delay, the department cited a backlog of road maintenance across all 15 wards in the region. “To ensure fairness and balanced service delivery, we are unable to remain in a single ward for an extended period.”

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When questioned about the broader mechanisms in place to prioritise resurfacing projects across multiple wards, the department outlined a data-driven strategy. “Resurfacing projects are prioritised based on technical assessments, resource availability, budget, and regional needs. This includes visual condition assessments, backlog planning, and an approved, though limited, resurfacing budget.”

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