Metro vows to tackle pothole crisis in Pretoria North
In Ward 2 alone, a total of 431 pothole complaints have been logged since April last year.
Motorists in Pretoria North Ward 2 have voiced growing frustration over the worsening state of roads riddled with potholes.
After months of complaints and repeated requests to the Tshwane metro, the municipality has pledged to fix the potholes and clear the growing backlog.
According to metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo, the Regional Transport Services Section has been overwhelmed with pothole repair requests, particularly since the torrential rains that started in December last year.
He said the prolonged downpours not only accelerated the formation of potholes but also hampered efforts to repair them effectively.
“Due to the heavy rainfall, potholes tend to resurface shortly after being repaired.
“This has resulted in minimum impact on reducing the number of reported potholes,” said Mashigo.
He added that the department is currently working according to a monthly pothole maintenance schedule, which includes both reported and scouted potholes across all 28 wards in the region.
In Ward 2 alone, a total of 431 pothole complaints have been logged since April last year.
Of these, 357 have been addressed, while 74 remain outstanding.
Mashigo said the metro is set to resolve the remaining cases by June.
He said some roads in Ward 2 where recent repairs were carried out include intersections along President Steyn Street, specifically at West, Jack Hindon and General Beyers streets, as well as 566 President Steyn where hot asphalt was used.
Mashigo said areas slated for repairs in April include Paul Kruger Street, Broodryk Street in Wolmer, and West Street.
Despite these efforts, resident John Peters remains sceptical.
“We have been reporting these same potholes for months with little to no feedback.”
Stephen Mabotja said the number of potholes in President Steyn is concerning.
“I use the road every day to work, and the potholes there are a major problem, especially when it is raining or at night because we can’t navigate [them] well,” he said.
Mashigo said that the funds for pothole repairs are not ward-specific but rather allocated regionally.
He said this reactive maintenance approach allows the metro to deploy resources based on monthly plans and urgency.
While materials such as hot-mix asphalt are readily available and produced in-house by the metro, the sheer volume of repairs has caused a backlog.
Ward 2 councillor Quentin Meyer said vehicles are damaged daily.
“We have escalated, we have reported, we have emailed, and we have followed every channel available to us. Yet, nothing has changed. No visible action. No long-term solution. No enforcement of accountability,” said Meyer.
“We are living in unacceptable conditions. The roads are crumbling beneath us.
“Our frustration has reached its limit. Every day, someone’s tyre bursts. Every day, suspension systems break.”
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