Kempton Park potholes raise safety concerns near local school

Kempton Park residents continue to raise concerns about potholes affecting service delivery in the area, with some warning that the deteriorating road conditions are putting motorists and pedestrians at risk.

Fulmar Street, next to Laerskool Kempton Park, is among the streets residents say remain unattended despite repeated complaints to the municipality.

Educators at the school have expressed concern about their safety, motorists, and the safety of learners travelling to and from the school.

Residents, educators and the ward councillor have continuously raised concerns about the potholes, but they say the municipality has yet to repair the road or attempt to address the problem.

READ: Laerskool Kempton Park departmental head Tania van Heerden said the condition of the road has already caused damage to her vehicle.

“Due to the potholes, I have had to replace two tyres and my rim was damaged. This not only poses a threat to motorists but can also be dangerous for learners, as some walk to school while others rely on school transport,” she said.

Van Heerden said she first noticed the potholes about three years ago and that the situation has since worsened.

“We can’t drive on the left-hand side of the road or the right-hand side. We drive on what is left of the road. Two cars cannot pass at the same time because of the potholes,” she explained.

“The potholes have affected other teachers, parents and learners who travel to the school. The drop-off zone has become chaotic and dangerous.”

She added that the school has reported the issue to the municipality several times.

“The school has reported the issue to the municipality multiple times, but we have been told there is no capacity to repair the potholes. The potholes need to be fixed, and road markings need to be repainted,” she said.

Ward 17 councillor Simon Lapping said potholes remain an ongoing challenge across the ward and believes the municipality needs to improve its response.

“Potholes are a continual issue in Ward 17, and there seems to be little desire from the municipality to deal with them effectively. Residents send me requests about potholes almost every hour,” he said.

“When residents report potholes, they are given reference numbers, which means the issues are being logged with the municipality continuously. The only excuse we often receive from the depot is that there is no tar, which in my view is not acceptable.”

Lapping warned that potholes pose a serious danger to road users, particularly during rainy conditions.

“Potholes pose a huge risk to all road users, especially in the rain when they are not visible. Combined with streetlights not working, they also pose a risk at night. The department needs to ensure a continuous supply of materials and have teams on the road repairing potholes,” he said.

He encouraged residents and parents concerned about the condition of the road near the school to continue reporting potholes.

“The more complaints that are submitted, the more likely the municipality will take the issue seriously.

“Motorists should also remain alert for potholes, especially during rainy weather, and drive carefully on affected streets,” he added.

Kempton Express contacted City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini for comment, but no response had been received at the time of publication.