BREDELL: Potholes go unrepaired for over two years
The large trucks, residents allege, worsen the potholes, some of which have previously been patched by residents themselves.
Bredell resident Stephen Devane has expressed frustration over what he says has been more than two years of unaddressed service delivery issues in the area.
Devane has repeatedly reported potholes on 8th Avenue and a damaged stormwater drainage system at the corner of 8th and 9th roads, with no repairs done to date.
According to Devane, he has contacted Ward 25 Clr Marinda Beukes multiple times to raise the concerns shared by many Bredell residents.
While he was assured that someone would inspect the affected areas, follow-up attempts led to vague responses.
Also read: Bredell Spar fixes potholes at own expense
Beukes reportedly told Devane that an inspection had been conducted and the matter was under discussion, but no further updates were provided.
Messages sent afterward went unanswered.
“The roads are badly damaged, and we’re tired of the silence. We pay our taxes and deserve proper infrastructure,” Devane said.
Residents believe that heavy truck traffic is contributing significantly to the problem.
They say multiple truck companies operate in the vicinity, especially near the butchery and 9th Road, with vehicles moving in and out daily.
Also read: Dodging disaster: Kempton Park motorists angered over potholes
The large trucks, residents allege, worsen the potholes, some of which have previously been patched by residents themselves.
Driving on 8th Avenue has become a daily struggle. Residents describe navigating the road as “driving like snakes” as they swerve constantly to avoid deep potholes.
They also questioned why so many trucks operate in the area if the street isn’t zoned for industrial or commercial use.
“I’ve reported to council the potholes and the deterioration of the road many times over the last two years. Every case has been closed without any repair work or even an inspection,” said one resident.
Kempton Express reached out to the City of Ekurhuleni for comment.
Also read: Birch Acres residents fed-up with potholes riddled roads
CoE spokesperson Zweli Dlamini responded that the road is scheduled for repair in May and assured that measures such as routine inspections would be put in place to prevent similar issues in future.
He added that the potholes could be attributed to the road’s ageing infrastructure and recent heavy rains.
Kempton Express also contacted Beukes on March 31 for comment and provided a deadline of April 4.
No response had been received by the time of publication.
