Easter Pothole Challenge launched in Equestria

To tackle the ongoing pothole problem in the city, DA volunteers, the local ward councillor and the Equestria Economic Area (JEA) NPC have joined forces to launch the Easter Pothole Challenge.

This follows their successful collaboration in filling potholes on Disselboom Road recently to alleviate the road cavities as it is used frequently by parents to drop off children at school.

The organisations aim to raise funds to repair more potholes across Ward 85.

Ward 85 councillor Jacqui Uys said recently the DA had 13 volunteers and councillors on Disselboom Road and provided the machinery and equipment to repair potholes.

“[Equipment hiring company] Talisman assisted with more hands on deck while residents donated the asphalt.”

Uys said Disselboom Road goes through a high-traffic area and that parents drive along it when taking their children to school.
One pothole specifically on a corner was very dangerous.

“In Equestria, we work with the JEA, an NGO that has an official arrangement with the city,” said Uys.

She said a full survey of potholes has to be done before the fundraising starts.

“We only need R20 000 more to fill all the potholes in Equestria with material that is guaranteed to last for two years.”

Uys added that there is currently an Easter Pothole Challenge to help raise funds.

“As ward councillor, I have been working with the JEA since its inception, and we participate in many activities with them, including clean-up of the area and other activities that keep the area safe. We believe that society must work together for a better future,” she explained.

She added that DA councillors across the city are working with civil society to make their areas better where the government is failing.

JEA co-ordinator Wade Tilley said on March 22 a survey of the 20km road network was concluded.

“We noted that the last of the summer rains have resulted in 192 potholes in the ward, which is 35 more than counted in our January 27 survey which totalled 157,” Tilley said.

Tilley said only six of the 20 roads in Equestria are currently pothole-free.

“These roads are short and it is hard to compare them to the total road network. So we have divided our road network into 20 road sections of roughly equal length, each length represents about 5% of our total road network. This breaks up what is a mammoth task into manageable milestones.

Currently we have two road sections or 10% of our road network that are pothole-free. They include Meadow Avenue (although the pothole repair quality should be improved) and Meerlust Road from Lynnwood and running into Rubidium Road.

This is thanks to the property developers of Linton’s Corner.

We may now begin repairing our road network step by step, each step will secure our network by another 5%.”

He challenged the community to see what percentage of the road network they could make pothole-free by the Easter weekend.

“Residents are encouraged to contact me privately to buy a ticket at R200. Each ticket will go into a draw where one lucky resident will win a family hamper sponsored by one of our local businesses.

Each ticket could fill a pothole and the estimated 200 tickets would make our road network 100% pothole-free and much easier to maintain through next year’s rains,” said Tilley.

He said he would be in contact with each complex to appeal to residents to support this project by buying at least two tickets per complex to ensure all are included.

“I will also be approaching businesses asking for a hamper sponsorship.”

Tilley expressed gratitude to generous residents who have already made donations to the NPC account, who will automatically qualify for tickets according to the amount they have paid.

“This will be the largest community project Equestria and Ward 85 have ever undertaken.”

For more information, residents can contact Wade on 082 409 7728.

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