Residents and motorists travelling along Sefako Makgatho Drive have raised growing concerns over dangerous potholes and deteriorating road conditions, particularly in Ward 5.

Ward Councillor Arnold van Niekerk has called for urgent intervention from the Tshwane metro, appealing to municipal officials for immediate repairs to the many potholes along the busy route.

“This is a safety risk and dangerous for resident users on this road. It’s not okay for a busy route such as this one to have this amount of potholes,” said Van Niekerk.

The road, which serves as a major arterial route for thousands of motorists daily, has become a source of frustration for residents who say the worsening conditions are damaging vehicles and putting lives at risk.

The metro confirmed that an inspection was conducted on May 11 by depot officials to assess the condition of the road.

According to the metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo, the inspection revealed extensive surface failures, including multiple potholes, cracking, surface breakages and segregation.

“The road has exceeded its design life and requires full rehabilitation. It has therefore been recommended for inclusion in the rehabilitation programme,” stated Mashigo.

He further confirmed that depot teams attended to potholes from May 12, following the inspection.

Mashigo said 12 potholes were identified and repaired between May 12 and 14. A follow-up inspection conducted on May 21 identified seven additional small potholes at intersections on roads directly adjacent to Sefako Makgatho Drive.

These areas, according to the metro, will be included in the operational maintenance schedule.

The metro also acknowledged that the road is in a severe state of disrepair and can no longer effectively accommodate reactive maintenance due to the frequent recurrence of potholes.

Mashigo attributed delays in repairs to several operational challenges, including inclement weather conditions, inconsistent asphalt supply caused by quarry breakdowns, and limited resources.

He confirmed that only one depot team is currently responsible for pothole repairs in wards 5, 50, and 96.

Despite the ongoing concerns, the metro said no temporary safety measures have yet been implemented on the affected stretch.

Mashigo said pothole-related complaints and vehicle damage claims linked to Sefako Makgatho Drive have been received through its Legal Department.

Rowlene Viljoen of Marija Street in Sinoville said, “We use this road every day for work and school transport. You constantly have to swerve around potholes, and sometimes there’s no space because of traffic”.

Viljoen said frustration grew over repeated temporary repairs.

“They fix the potholes today and after a few weeks, they are back again. Residents are paying the price with damaged tyres and suspensions. The road needs proper rehabilitation, not patchwork repairs,” she said.

The metro said repair work commenced last week and additional potholes identified during recent inspections will form part of the operational maintenance plan.

The municipality added that it remains committed to addressing road safety concerns despite ongoing resource constraints and acknowledged the frustrations experienced by residents and motorists using the busy route daily.

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