Rains and load-shedding to blame for delays in pothole repairs in the north

Heavy rains, load-shedding and a lack of hot asphalt – all of these have been blamed for the delay in fixing the many potholes plaguing motorists in the north of Pretoria.

This was according to local ward councillor Yolanda Duvenage, who said that there is a monthly schedule in place for pothole repairs.

Instead, because of the abovementioned factors, local potholes are not only not getting fixed but getting deeper and bigger by the day.

Ward 50 councillor Lenise Breytenbach agreed that repairing the potholes in the north is “a huge challenge” and that recent rains have put the repair work on hold.

“The rainfall means that no work can be done because potholes cannot be fixed while the roads are wet even though we have teams ready to repair them.”

Breytenbach encouraged residents to continue reporting potholes and thanked residents who have already reported the potholes in their areas.

Potholes in the north are an ongoing issue that motorists had to deal with for years.

Recently, Rekord reported on an incident in which bystanders had to jump in to help a motorist whose car was stuck in an enormous water-filled pothole.

(The metro had since attended to the pothole in question.)

Motorists who had unfortunate experiences with potholes can submit claims to the metro for any damage caused.

These claims will, however, be investigated before a decision will be made on whether metro will accept liability or not.

Residents may submit their claims to the metro’s legal department by completing a claim form.

The completed claim form and supporting documents must be submitted to claims@tshwane.gov.za.

An acknowledgement of receipt letter will be sent to the claimant, advising him/her of the allocated reference number.

The claim will be investigated and thereafter submitted to the metro’s insurance broker for an assessment and decision.

Depending on the assessment, a claim is either settled or repudiated.

It is also important for residents to continue reporting potholes spotted to the Tshwane metro, while the metro added that they are committed to accelerating pothole repairs and reducing the current pothole backlog.

Motorists travelling in the north of Pretoria are cautioned to drive carefully on the following streets where potholes had been identified:

– Jan van Riebeeck Street (between President Steyn and Stasie streets)
– Corner of Jopie Fourie and Pagel streets
– Corner of Ben Viljoen Street and Brits Road
– Corner of Emily Hobhouse and Rachel de Beer streets
– Matlabas Avenue
– Cecil Avenue
– Antun Street
– Orsula Street
– Vinko Street
– Sefako Makgatho Drive
– Braam Pretorius Street
– Steenbras Avenue
– Bessiebos Avenue
– Eeufees Street
– Gerrit Maritz Road
– Corner of Francois and Barbara Tileba streets
– Corner Brits Road and Ben Viljoen Street
– Veldkornet Roos Street

Residents are encouraged to report potholes to the metro by sending an email to pothole@tshwane.gov.za.

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