Ward 106 councillor fumes over ongoing potholes and non-functional traffic lights
From near-misses at busy intersections to streets that crumble after every rain, Ward 106 councillor and the residents are demanding answers and action now!
The Ward 106 councillor and residents are growing increasingly frustrated as potholes and faulty traffic signals continue to plague their streets, raising safety concerns for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians alike.
Ward councillor Chris Santana said he has been sounding the alarm for months, but Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) only comes up with temporary solutions.
Read more: Ward 106 councillor looks toward a better ward in 2026
“From Wessels Road to Gary Street, Hornbill Road to Bevan Road, our residents are navigating dangerous, pothole-ridden streets every day. Temporary patches fail within weeks, especially after rain, and it’s the community that suffers,” Santana said.
Traffic signal failures are compounding the problem. Santana said intersections like Leslie Avenue, between Douglasdale and The Village Shopping Centre, and the corner of Hornbill and Niven roads have become hotspots for congestion and near-misses. “Residents shouldn’t have to play traffic controller while waiting weeks or even months for basic repairs.”
Santana criticised JRA for a reactive approach. “We need properly engineered, long-term fixes, not constant patchwork that fails at the first sign of rain. Every failed repair is wasteful expenditure, and it’s our residents who pay the price.”
He also called for accountability and transparency. “We demand clear repair schedules, faster response times for traffic signal failures, routine preventative maintenance, and consequences for contractors or officials who fail to deliver.”
Also read: Ward 109 councillor urges more community involvement ahead of 2026 local government elections
“Service delivery is measured on the street, not in spreadsheets,” he said. “Residents pay their rates and taxes with the expectation that infrastructure will work. I will continue to escalate unresolved issues and use every oversight mechanism available to ensure Ward 106 gets the service it deserves.”
In response, JRA regional operations manager Khayalethu Gqibitole acknowledged the challenges but pointed to infrastructure limitations and weather-related delays.
“Wessels Road has reached its design lifespan and is therefore prone to pothole defects,” Gqibitole said. “However, teams attended to the potholes on January 19, 2026, and repairs are conducted in accordance with JRA standards of work.”
Gqibitole added that recent heavy rainfall has caused production delays across the city, but denied that repaired potholes have reoccurred.
“We have not had a recurrence of potholes that have been repaired by the teams. However, due to the road reaching the end of its design life, it remains prone to defects.”
Regarding timelines, Gqibitole said repairs are ongoing. “The weekly plan and schedule have been shared with the Community Relations Unit and the councillor. All defects are currently being attended to on the ground, and therefore no specific timeline has been issued.”
On accountability, Gqibitole maintained that internal processes are in place. “Proper disciplinary measures do take place when necessary; however, the current situation does not warrant such action,” he said, adding that a proactive maintenance plan for roads, stormwater infrastructure, and traffic signals is currently in place.
Regarding traffic signal failures, Gqibitole provided further clarity on the affected intersections.
At Leslie Avenue, between Douglasdale Shopping Centre and The Village Shopping Centre, the traffic lights are currently affected by a power supply outage.
“JRA is working with Eskom to resolve the matter,” Gqibitole said, adding that the estimated time of repair depends on Eskom’s restoration of power.
At the corner of Hornbill Road and Niven Road, Gqibitole said the intersection was vandalised and requires upgrading.
“This is a priority four intersection, and due to budget constraints, priority two intersections are currently receiving attention first,” he said.
He acknowledged that these outages are contributing to congestion, near-miss accidents and increased safety risks, particularly during peak traffic periods.
“For maintenance-related and technical Faults, the repair turnaround time is 24 hours. In the event of damaged or knocked over poles and traffic lights infrastructure, the repair turnaround period is 14 working days. The ETR for traffic signals affected by power supply faults or outages is dependent on the resolution time by Eskom.”
Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
