Repairs finally begin on Katakoeroe Street pothole crisis in Birch Acres

Following continued reporting on the pothole-ridden Katakoeroe Street in Birch Acres, residents have expressed frustration, as deteriorating road conditions have affected mobility and are reportedly contributing to crime in the area.

Repairs on the street finally began on June 22, following an oversight visit by City of Ekurhuleni Mayor Cllr Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, who inspected severely affected streets in Birch Acres.

Ward 13 Clr Bulelwa Ngqwangi visited the site on June 23 to assess progress. She said delays in repairs were due to budget constraints last year and to the type of tar used during maintenance.

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“Previously, a cold tar mix was used, which would easily wash away when it rains. This time round, a hot mix is being used, and it’s guaranteed that this tar will last longer,” Ngqwangi said.

She added that residents should understand the area is prone to potholes due to an underground water issue, and that other affected streets will also be attended to.

A Roads and Stormwater official confirmed that excavation work is currently underway to address the underground water problem.

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Subsoil drainage will be installed to divert underground water, after which full road refurbishment will follow.

Resident and business owner Luan Herbest welcomed the long-awaited repairs.

“This is quite a bit of relief. We can finally save on tyres now that this is being fixed. Going forward, the municipality must focus on upkeep, because if this was fixed before it became a big issue, it wouldn’t have gotten this far,” Herbest said.

Ngqwangi assured residents that, with the budget now approved, service delivery improvements and road repairs will be rolled out across the area.