The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has hit back at allegations of apathy regarding the seriousness of the situation in Mijn Street in the CBD, where a portion of the street has collapsed due to illegal mining tunnels dug under the road surface.
Horn Trading, situated at the corner of Van Wyk en Mijn Street, was allegedly fined R15 000 for their attempts at carrying out repairs on the road after they hired machinery and dug open the tunnel to determine the extent of the damage.
Also read: It’s not a pothole, it’s a (zama zama) tunnel!
This after, according to the company, they were informed that the street would not be repaired timeously, due to budgetary constraints.
According to JRA’s head of Regional Operations Khaya Gqibitole, this is untrue.
“JRA has not commented on the financial implications or budget issues on the repair of the road. A traffic advisory was issued on the emergency closure of Mijn Street in November. Investigations into the extent of the damage and to determine the required remedial work are still underway.”
Gqibitole adds that the entity did have an engagement with the company.
“A man requested permission to fill the road. The depot advised that only appointed service providers are allowed to work on the road. This is to ensure compliance with specifications and designs, as this work is specialised in nature.”
He reiterates that access to the business premises of Horn Trading is not restricted by the road closure.
“Traffic has been accommodated on alternative routes since the time of the closure. JRA’s traffic diversion plan has not blocked any access into properties.”
Regarding the fine that Horn Trading claimed to have received, Gqibitole says JRA does not issue fines for by-law infringements.
Also read: Business fined for fixing collapsed road
“A company opened the road without permission from the JRA or City of Johannesburg. It must be stressed that this is in contravention of Section 57 (12) of the National Road Traffic Act.
“While JRA does not issue fines, it is within the rights of the entity to report matters to JMPD. JRA neither instructs nor determines the actions to be undertaken by JMPD. JRA reported the unauthorised opening of the road to JMPD and alerted the Infrastructure Protection Unit.”
When the Roodepoort Record asked about a timeline for the repair of the street, he said that one cannot at this stage be determined.
“Sinkholes and road collapses take longer to address because critical underground infrastructure such as stormwater pipes, sewer lines, etc, may be impacted.”
