“JRA, you need to step in and step up…”

This was said by Ward 112 councillor Lerato Mphefo, who did not mince her words when addressing officials during the launch of Operation Restore in Midrand on June 18, calling on the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) to improve service delivery and account for long-standing infrastructure problems affecting residents.

The programme, led by City of Johannesburg MMC for Transport Kenny Kunene, brought together JRA board members, CEO Zweli Nyathi, Region A acting director Macmillan Papi Telekoa, ward councillors, residents, and other city officials in Wards 112 and 132.

Read more: Residents question JRA turnaround time amid mounting road damage

Addressing the gathering, Mphefo stressed that councillors are responsible for oversight and escalation of service delivery issues, not carrying out repairs themselves.

“As councillors, our work is to do oversight. We raise issues through council forums, Section 79 committees and engagements with city entities. It is not councillors who patch potholes or repair traffic lights,” she said.

“The CEO needs to tell residents why the KPIs are not met, why the SLAs are not met and whether depots have the resources they need. If they have the resources, then why is the work not being done?” she asked.

She revealed that reports compiled by the ward’s urban inspector continue to contain unresolved matters dating back to 2024.

“Our residents are frustrated. They are damaging their vehicles because of potholes and sitting in traffic caused by broken traffic lights. What exactly are we celebrating today?” she asked.

She also highlighted the long-standing traffic signal failure at the intersection of Whisken Avenue and Seventh Road, claiming it has remained non-operational for more than two years.

Also read: Johannesburg Water responds after councillors visit leaking Midrand site

Telekoa agreed that the programme should result in visible improvements rather than becoming a symbolic exercise. “When we host Operation Restore, residents must see a difference. It should not be one of those shows where promises are made, and nothing changes afterwards,” said Telekoa.

He encouraged officials to use the initiative to resolve as many outstanding issues as possible and improve communication between city entities and residents.

Nyathi acknowledged many of the concerns raised and said the agency would continue monitoring infrastructure challenges beyond the week-long intervention.

“Midrand has a good road network, but it requires consistent maintenance. We cannot wait for residents to report every issue… We use the same roads and infrastructure, and should be proactive in identifying problems,” said Nyathi.

He assured residents that Operation Restore would not be a once-off intervention.

Among the projects scheduled for the week are pothole repairs, a sinkhole repair near Midrand High School, traffic-calming measures on Segal Road, road markings around schools, installation of road signs, reconstruction of a kerb inlet structure at Linbro Business Park on Maple Road, and reinstatement work at Swiss Country Club.

Also read: Taxi operators welcome delayed Market Street repairs

Ward 132 councillor Annette Deppe welcomed the initiative but echoed residents’ frustrations over deteriorating roads and infrastructure.

Kunene explained that Operation Restore was introduced in 2023 to accelerate service delivery by pooling resources from different regions.

“JRA was designed to be a maintenance company, but over the years, human resources have declined significantly. Where there were once teams of more than 30 people, some teams now have as few as six workers,” he said.

“The roads were built many years ago, and much of the underground infrastructure is ageing. You can patch a pothole today, but if water penetrates underneath during the rainy season, another pothole will form. That is why Johannesburg experiences so many recurring potholes.”

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