Watch: Spencer Road resurfacing: JRA’s non-existent ‘job in progress’
JRA's resurfacing of Spencer Road in Maraisburg has stalled, despite the entity's insistence that work is in progress.
The condition of Spencer Road, which winds its way past the CMR Golf Course, has been steadily deteriorating for more than two years.
A resurfacing operation announced by the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) in April has thus far failed to materialise, despite the entity’s insistence that work is in progress.
JRA, through its acting head of department for Regional Operations, Mpho Maruping, has denied that resurfacing has stalled at Spencer Road, despite no recent activity by the entity being apparent.
The resurfacing of the road first made the news in April due to JRA’s insistence on resurfacing it despite warnings that without an overhaul of the stormwater system, which is hardly able to withstand even light seasonal rain, it would be a futile exercise, as the road regularly floods.
• Also read: UPDATE: Business owners fuming over Spencer Road upgrade
The golf club’s chairperson Siki Wadvalla says the club is struggling to attract members and players due to the rapidly worsening condition of Spencer Road.
“We’ve counted up to 70 large trucks using this stretch of road in one hour,” he says.
“We are grateful for JRA’s decision to resurface the road, but their vehicles have been parked in our parking lot since the end of April, and to date, nothing has been done.”
Maruping disputes this, stating on August 21 in reply to the Roodepoort Record’s questions that work is in progress.
He added that the resurfacing is a temporary measure pending an overhaul of the inadequate stormwater system, which is contributing to the worsening condition of the road due to erosion.
A video provided by Wadvalla of conditions during the rain in August highlights the shortcomings of the stormwater system in the area.
Asked whether there was a plan in place to attend to the stormwater system, Maruping said, “It must be put under IDP for consideration.”
Ward 70 councillor Caleb Finn confirmed on August 21 that resurfacing of Spencer Road has stalled.
“The plant is not operational because the City [of Johannesburg] has not paid its gas supplier, and services to the city have been suspended as a result.”
This was highlighted by DA mayoral candidate Helen Zille, whose video of her visit to the plant on August 18 was widely shared on social media.
