Jet Patcher contract to fix potholes has expired – metro
Residents have been calling for the metro to use the Jet Patcher machines to fix potholes after the recent rains. However, the machines were rented through the tender SS04 2020/21 for three years, which has since expired.
Pothole Jet Patcher machines that were touted as a solution to the Tshwane metro pothole-riddled routes in 2022 are no longer available.
The three-year contract for their use has lapsed.
Residents in Tshwane saw the piece of machinery as a step in the right direction to fast-track pothole repairs. It used a high-pressure air compressor, which was able to first remove dust and debris before repairwork.
In 2022, the metro said it was accelerating the fight against potholes with the deployment of the machine, which could fix about 4 000m2 of potholes in a week.
Recently residents have been calling for the deployment of these machines to deal with the persistent scourge of potholes plaguing Tshwane’s roads after the region faced heavy downpours. However, Tshwane has said that the machines are no longer at its disposal.
Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the machines were rented and not owned by the metro.
“The Jet Patcher machines were acquired through the expired tender SS04 2020/21 for the corporative hire of general construction vehicles and refuse removal vehicles for the city of Tshwane as and when required for a period of three years.
“The machines came with the service provider’s own operator, workers and material,” Mashio explained.
He said Tshwane successfully deployed the machines previously when the contract was still valid to address pothole backlogs.
“However the machines were not deployed in isolation but to supplement the work and pothole repair programmes implemented by the internal maintenance teams.”
He added that Tshwane encouraged the use of internal resources for the maintenance of roads.
“This approach is intended to curb excessive expenditure in the use of contractors.
“The City of Tshwane addresses the repair and patching of potholes by the deployment of its internal roads maintenance teams daily across the city in all seven regions.”
Mashigo said Region 6 has 522 pothole complaints.
“However we have managed to repair 273 and the remaining 249 have been delayed by factors such as rain and shortages of staff.
“We must bear in mind that the region has severe staff and resource shortages due to natural attrition and shortage of material.
Furthermore, rainfall during this period has been excessive, leading to a severe backlog in the filling of potholes,” he concluded.
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