Pothole frustrates new driver

The roads throughout Potchefstroom are deteriorating rapidly and resulting in more and more costs incurred by motorists.

This problem is getting worse by the day and the municipality does not seem to have an urgent plan to do anything about it. These roads are on the decline which can cause punctures, uneven tyre wear, damaged sidewalls and even balancing issues.

Lerato Manana, who recently became a driver, was extremely upset when she hit a pothole in Eleazer street that affected her wheel alignment. “I was driving through the neighborhood at normal speed and yet a pothole still caused damage that required expenses that I had not budgeted for,” she lamented.

Manana, who recently got her license says because she is still learning her way around the wheel, she is extremely cautious when it comes to the road. “I have always been nervous about driving so I never think about speeding. It really frustrates me that I had to pay for something when I was being extra careful,” she said.

Manana added that what annoys her even more is seeing warning signs against potholes being put up instead of allocating workers to fix them. “Is this how they think the problem is going to be solved,” she said.

Acting municipal spokesperson, Jeanette Tshite  says the municipality is aware of difficulties caused by the potholes on Eleazer street.  “Eleazer Street will be one of the places prioritized as soon as a capable service provider is  selected because some sections need surface repairs,” she said.

In a previous article related to potholes Tshite had said in past financial years, the municipality has made provisions in the budget to construct new roads and reseal and rehabilitate existing roads. “The pothole patching programme has also been an ongoing maintenance programme of the municipality,” she said.

At the time, 33 service providers had been appointed, and 66 local SMMEs and approximately 165 labourers had already assumed their allocated sites, to fix roads throughout J.B Marks and added that another three contractors were appointed to start upgrading the critical roads identified.