After complaints that several local roads have reached the end of their design lifespan, the City of Tshwane has started a pothole repair campaign on Pretoria Road in Silverton.
Frustrated Silverton residents say widespread potholes on key roads damage vehicles and risk causing crashes, especially at night and during rain.
According to residents, busy routes including De Boulevard Street, Krige Street and Pretoria Road have reached the end of their design lifespan and continue to deteriorate over time.
They claim repeated service requests to the City of Tshwane yield little to no remedial action.
Residents demand lasting solutions
Silverton resident Paul McDonalds said most roads in the suburb are old, but that does not mean the municipality should neglect them.
McDonalds said another concern is that repeated pothole complaints go unresolved and reference numbers are closed without work being done, despite service requests logged with the Tshwane metro.
He said despite several reports and complaints, many roads in Silverton continue to deteriorate faster than workers can repair them.
“We are calling on Tshwane to prioritise road maintenance, improve the quality of backfilling after excavations, and implement long-term solutions to prevent roads from becoming hazardous. Safe and well-maintained roads are not a luxury – they are a basic service that every ratepayer deserves,” he said.
Municipality schedules urgent repairs
City of Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashigo confirmed that officials inspected De Boulevard Street, Krige Street, Keuning Drive, Brandwag Street and Pretoria Road on October 7 to assess surface conditions and schedule maintenance.
Mashigo said critical pothole repairs on Pretoria Road and other high-risk sections were set to begin on October 8, prioritised based on severity, safety risks, available resources and maintenance schedules.
He added that the city cannot confirm whether the roads have reached the end of their lifespan without completing full technical assessments. These condition assessments will determine remaining serviceability and guide future inclusion in resurfacing or rehabilitation programmes, subject to available funding.
How to report a pothole in Tshwane
Residents can report potholes in the City of Tshwane using the e-Tshwane portal or via official contact channels:
Email: Send details to pothole@tshwane.gov.za
Call centre: Call 012 358 9999 (select option 2, then option 4)
WhatsApp: Message 087 153 1001
Online portal: Log a query through the e-Tshwane Lodge a Complaint page or the City of Tshwane Reporting Guide.
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