Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officers have halted the community pothole-repair project on Bosbok Road in Randpark Ridge.

Ward 134 councillor Devon Steenkamp said the initiative was led by himself, the Duiker Ridge Residents Association and local community members, and was aimed to make the road safer and prevent further damage to vehicles while residents waited for official repairs. However, work was stopped because the group lacked a wayleave or authorisation from the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA).

Steenkamp explained that he was aware of the wayleave process, which provides official municipal authorisation to undertake work affecting a public road or city infrastructure. He claimed, however, that past experience shows the application process often fails communities attempting to assist. “Requests can go unanswered or be refused, while the potholes residents are trying to address remain unattended for months,” Steenkamp said.

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He acknowledged that the group did not obtain a wayleave for this specific initiative before starting repairs. “Johannesburg needs a practical mechanism through which residents, businesses and community organisations can partner with the city when they are prepared to contribute their own resources towards improving their neighbourhoods.”

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The Duiker Ridge Residents Association and local residents contributed financially, provided manual labour, and supplied refreshments for those undertaking the work. “It was residents giving their own time, money and effort to address a problem in their community,” Steenkamp said.

He added that they will try the formal process again and continue pushing the agency to do the job residents already pay the municipality to perform. “JMPD should enforce the law, but the city must get its priorities right, and JRA must do the job residents already pay it to do.”

Questions were sent to both JMPD and JRA, but no response was received by the time of publication. Their responses will be published once made available.

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