Drysdale Road in Sundowner remains untouched and on the verge of collapse, five months after it was damaged by severe floods that affected parts of the northern suburbs of Johannesburg.

Read more: JRA finally repairs water channel in Bromhof

The floods dislodged a fence along the roadside and created a large hole that poses a serious danger to motorists. The damage is especially hazardous due to its location at a blind corner. Despite the risks, the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has yet to take any action to repair the road.

Ward 134 councillor Devon Steenkamp has been actively following up and escalating the issue with the JRA. He emphasised the danger, particularly at night or during poor visibility:
“The storms hit this area, and because of a lack of maintenance, it has now eroded the road. The fencings have gone away, and it’s concerning that when the next season of rain comes, don’t believe that this road is going to withstand the forces of water.”

@caxtonjoburgnorth Ward 134 councillor Devon Steenkamp and Suen Kreusch address the state of Drysdale Road. The road is in a terrible condition after it was damaged during heavy rains earlier in the year. 5 months later, JRA hasn’t repaired the busy road. #Ward134 #JRA ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North

Steenkamp also criticised the response from Kenny Kunene, former Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Transport, who claimed in a written statement to the council that the road simply needed resurfacing.
“That was quite laughable. This situation on Drysdale demands more than a patch-up. The city needs to urgently assess the structural integrity of the road and invest in proper stormwater management systems. Quick responses and long-term planning need to go hand in hand if we are to avoid further collapse.”

Questions have been sent to Joburg Water for comment.

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