RESIDENTS of Birch Acres have been complaining about potholes that either go unfixed or quickly become damaged again.
“The problem is not that they don’t fix them at all. The problem is that instead of putting in place permanent solutions for the potholes, they only fix them in such a way that the solution is only temporary,” a resident claims.
Allan Sauls, a DA proportional councillor, said he had received a few complaints from residents about the potholes.
He said he had sent through numerous requests to Ekurhuleni Municipality to have the roads repaired.
“The metro said they would have the roads fixed during this financial year. I am getting worried because it is almost June and the roads are still not sorted out.”
A number of roads around Birch Acres have potholes and are due for maintenance, including Bergrivier, Kwartel, Oranjerivier, Meeu, Pongola River, Sneeubal and Geranium streets.
Some of the holes are so deep they cause damage to cars, especially when filled with water after rain. One resident, Terrence Perumal, had his wheels and rims damaged by the potholes along Bergrivier Road.
“The potholes have been fixed a few times but clearly they don’t fix them properly. As soon as it rains, the potholes appear again. My tyres and rims wee recently damaged and I have no money to fix them. These poor road conditions are so costly and such an inconvenience,” Perumal said.
The ANC ward councillor, Ndala Sibanyoni, said on the contrary, he had had no trouble with the issue of potholes and road maintenance.
He said every time he had requested for roads to be serviced, the municipality had in fact responded efficiently.
A metro spokesman said the municipality would be filling up the potholes in Birch Acres with crusher first. The patching with cold mix will follow once the rain has stopped.
