JRA denies overspend claim as Ward 132 road repair concerns rise
Crumbling roads, stalled repairs, and claims of financial mismanagement have put Ward 132 in the spotlight as the JRA pushes back against allegations of overspend.
A dispute has emerged between Ward 132 councillor Annette Deppe and Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) over the state of road infrastructure and alleged financial mismanagement, with the agency firmly rejecting claims of a R100m overspend.
Deppe raised serious concerns in a media statement about what she described as the ongoing neglect of essential infrastructure repairs in Ward 132, particularly deteriorating roads, potholes, resurfacings, and reinstatements.
She attributed the lack of progress to an alleged failure to allocate sufficient funding to the ward. “The lack of progress in repairing potholes, resurfacing, and reinstatements is directly attributable to the failure to allocate necessary funds to our ward.”
She warned that the situation had reached a critical point and accused the current administration of falling short in addressing basic service delivery needs.
Central to Deppe’s concerns is her claim that JRA overspent by R100m in the current quarter and subsequently drew the same amount from the next quarter’s budget, describing the alleged move as untenable fiscal mismanagement.
She called for greater transparency and accountability, saying residents of Ward 132 were entitled to safe and well-maintained roads.
However, JRA has strongly disputed the overspend allegation. Responding to media queries, JRA chief financial officer Lufuno Mashau said the agency’s first quarter report does not reflect a R100m variance.
Deppe must indicate where she got this number from so that we can assist further.” He reiterated that there was also no reported early use of funds from the next quarter’s budget.
Also read: JRA’s Operation Restore ends 3-year uneven road battle in Paulshof
On service delivery delays in Ward 132, JRA head of regional operations Khaya Gqibitole acknowledged challenges, but said the ward does receive attention from the agency. He cited limited resources as a key constraint.
“Unfortunately, we are working with limited resources, and our teams cannot focus on a single ward continuously. We need to ensure that we also dedicate attention to the other wards in the region.”
He added that the agency is reviewing outstanding service requests, and prioritising repairs based on safety considerations, traffic volumes, and the severity of road damage.
Addressing broader concerns about accountability, Mashau said JRA reports quarterly and annually to the City of Johannesburg’s Section 79 Committee on Transport and to council, and that its financial statements are audited by both internal and external assurance providers.
He noted that in the first quarter, the agency met 92% of its performance targets, a result, he said, was commended by councillors serving on the oversight committee.
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