Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) confirmed, on May 25, that the longstanding excavation on Jan Smuts Avenue will be attended to as soon as work is complete on Rothesay Avenue.

The publication first sounded the alarm last year. JRA engaged with Johannesburg Water regarding the excavation but confirmed that they would be conducting repairs. “Our teams have confirmed with me that once they have concluded the two reinstatements [on Rothesay Avenue], they will move to Jan Smuts Avenue,” said a JRA communication.

Read more: Illegal excavation in Parkwood contravenes JRA act

CraigPark Residents’ Association vice chairperson Samantha Herman said the association acknowledged that one of the major reinstatements on Rothesay Avenue was recently repaired, but that this did not address the broader issue. “There are still several outstanding excavations across the suburb that have been left unattended for extended periods, creating serious safety risks for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians.”

Herman noted that a particularly concerning example is the excavation at the intersection of Buckingham Avenue, Norfolk Road, and Somerset Road. “This is a large and dangerous excavation, which has been there since the beginning of the year. This is not a minor inconvenience; it is a serious road hazard that has already caused damage to a number of vehicles, with several residents reporting destroyed tyres.”
The risk is even higher at night or in poor weather, when visibility is reduced and drivers may not see the hazard in time. She added that the core issue is that repairs are done to the underground infrastructure, but the road surface is not reinstated within a reasonable timeframe. “Residents are then left with open or poorly filled excavations for months or years, like on Abbey Drive.

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“Our request is simple, once repair work has been completed, the reinstatement of the road should be treated as part of the same job, not as a separate issue that disappears into a queue for months.”
Herman concluded that the association appreciates the work being done to repair water infrastructure, but the process cannot end with a dangerous hole being left in the road for months. Proper reinstatement needs to happen promptly, safely, and transparently.

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