Frustrated motorists and residents are calling on the City of Mbombela (CoM), Sanral, and the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport (DPWRT), to urgently repair the region’s dilapidated roads after recent rains worsened conditions across the Lowveld.

Locals say many streets that were patched after January’s heavy rains are now in worse condition than before, with some roads reaching the end of their structural lifespan.

For Bianca Maphanga, the lack of maintenance is the main problem. “Those responsible for roads often wait until they fail completely before taking action. Regular upkeep would solve most of these issues. The R40 from Barberton to Acornhoek, and other towns along the route, are riddled with potholes. The rain has only exposed poor workmanship by the municipality,” she said.

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Christo Murray added that some roads need full reconstruction. “Continuing to spend money on minor repairs is a waste. Andrew Street, from Arrow Park to the taxi rank, continues to deteriorate despite recent Jetpatcher repairs. Even in front of the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court, potholes remain.”

Piet van Schalkwyk warned that Old Pretoria Road is worsening daily. “The road was already a mess before the rainy season. Motorists risk hitting water-filled potholes or veering into oncoming traffic to avoid them. Serious attention is required.”

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Meanwhile, Pastor TJ Maré described Johanna Drive as a ‘total mess’. He said maintenance work was started and then abandoned with the rain worsening the damage. “The road needs to be resealed. Many promises were made by the CoM, but there has been no action. The potholes on Dr Enos Mabuza Drive were there even before the rains.”

Johan Heymans, chairperson of the White River Ratepayers Association, said residents report potholes daily, but responses are slow and often inadequate. “Poorly compacted patches cause windscreen damage. We need a functional municipality,” he said.

CoM spokesperson Joseph Ngala said pothole patching is ongoing, though rain makes it challenging. “Resurfacing plans are in place. However, due to budget constraints, we cannot resurface all roads at once. We will, however, continue with maintenance.”

DPWRT spokesperson Bongani Dhlamini confirmed that pothole patching on provincial roads continues as defects are reported. Sanral spokesperson Lwando Mahlasela was unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.