By Phil C. Pretorius, Councilor and Chief Whip, Midvaal Municipality.

I am particularly excited about the progress being made in relation to fixing potholes and dirt roads in Midvaal. The first quarter of each year is always problematic for potholes, scraping of roads and cutting of grass due to the rainy season. The past three years’ particularly high rainfall figures have put Midvaal on the back foot in relation to service delivery as these activities cannot take place in the rain. Rain is necessarily the main contributing factor and the primary reason for these problems, and therefore matters worsen as the rain increases.

The good news, and the MIDVAAL DIFFERENCE, is that Midvaal is winning the war against potholes. Eight teams work seven days a week, 365 days a year on potholes in Midvaal. Six of these teams follow up the complaint system’s priority lists in wards and two teams go from ward to ward and fix everything they come across. If we therefore look at the first-mentioned six teams’ mandate, it explains why only one or two potholes in a street are sometimes repaired and other potholes in the area are not repaired even though the team is there.

The task of these six teams is to handle and settle the complaints that have reference numbers on the complaints system. The latter two teams’ mandate is then to work through a ward and fix everything from corner to corner. This can of course take some time and means that the teams may only be able to get to your ward every three to four months. Potholes are repaired to strict specifications and when the repair fails, it is the surrounding tar that gives in and not the repair of the original pothole. This means that the roads as a whole need more attention and for that reason Midvaal aims to pay more attention to the resealing of surfaces and “fog spray” to prevent more degeneration of the road surface.

New technology such as the Jet Patcher pothole repair machine has been investigated and demonstrations have already been made to management for consideration. If the purchase or contracting of this technology is approved, it will radically speed up the pothole repair process. I will provide more information about this technology in upcoming columns.

Many dirt roads have also been scraped recently but as is the case with potholes, the roads that are the worst damaged get attention first before moving on to the others. In some cases Midvaal had to completely rebuild dirt roads to make them passable again after the floods, e.g. Wilge Street in Helderstrome. Where necessary, resurfacing material was brought in and compacted to build up and strengthen the roads to ensure a longer life cycle. The correct slope and drainage channels for rainwater are also important in the building process and the necessary knowledge and overview are decisive here. Additional contractors and scrapers have recently been acquired by Midvaal to assist them in this process.

Feel free to go to our new Facebook page MIDVAAL SERVICE DELIVERY REPORT for regular updates on service delivery in Midvaal. Please remember that Gautrans is responsible for provincial roads such as the R82, R551 to Heidelberg, Jim Fouché Street, the Uitvlugt Road, Party Street in Boltonwold, the R42 and R54 Vaaldam road, as well as Joan Street, Karee Street in Daleside, the Eikenhof road, R557 Randvaal road, Vischgat road, Eaton Street and Gordon Street in Henley. Midvaal reports these roads to Gautrans on a weekly basis and holds monthly in-situ meetings with them. These roads can also be self-reported by residents to Gautrans on the POTHOLEFIXGP app on the Google Play Store.

We ask that residents please report potholes on Midvaal roads on the MyMidvaalApp with photos and a location pin, as well as the physical address in the description of the complaint. Or log a call at 0871062471. Then follow up with your ward councilor after a week or two by quoting the necessary reference numbers.

It is a team effort. Together we will win this pothole war. Midvaal greetings. Ph!l
Web: www.midvaal.gov.za
Facebook: Midvaal Local Municipality and Midvaal News Network
Tel: 0871062471
MyMidvaal App