Polokwane’s ageing roads to blame for recurring potholes, says muni
The Polokwane Municipality says full road upgrades are needed in some areas, but that daily repair teams are working to improve conditions by fixing potholes in the city.
POLOKWANE – The Polokwane Municipality says it is aware of the mounting frustration over the state of the city’s roads and has assured residents that pothole repairs are part of a continuous maintenance programme currently being implemented across affected areas.
Polokwane’s streets are riddled with potholes, with areas once free of road damage, now barely drivable.
Residents have complained about the deteriorating state of roads in the city, citing the danger it poses to motorists and other road users.
Earlier this year, the municipality confirmed it depleted all funds available for the remainder of the then financial year to repair potholes, but municipal spokesperson Thipa Selala confirmed that road patching teams are on the ground daily, working systematically to restore safer road surfaces.
Read more: Polokwane’s pothole crisis worsens as repair budget runs dry
In response to questions from the Polokwane Review-Observer, Selala said the turnaround time for reported potholes generally ranges between 48 and 120 hours, depending on the size of the pothole and the classification of the road. Urgent cases are prioritised to minimise risk to motorists.
However, he acknowledged that recurring potholes, especially in certain areas, are often the result of roads that have reached the end of their design lifespan.
“In those cases, patching is only a temporary fix and full road rehabilitation is required, a process that is resource-intensive and forms part of the City’s broader infrastructure upgrade plans,” he said.
In May, the Polokwane Observer reported that 10 Pothole claims totaling R207k were filed against the Polokwane Municipality.
Read more: 10 Pothole claims totaling R207k filed against Polokwane Municipality
The municipality further noted that while the challenges are significant, steady progress is being made and public cooperation remains key.
“We understand the public’s frustration and we share the same commitment to improving our road conditions. The pothole problem is being tackled head-on and with sustained effort and investment, it will become a thing of the past.”
Residents are encouraged to report potholes and monitor the status of repairs via the MyPolokwane Citizen App, which the city says helps with faster response and better coordination.
You might also want to read: Hit a pothole? This is how you can claim for damage to your vehicle
