MEYERTON – The Midvaal Local Municipality on April 29 officially declared war on potholes.

Midvaal’s Executive Mayor, Peter Teixeira, said the “War on Potholes” campaign was launched to tackle a growing road maintenance backlog worsened by recent heavy rains.

Speaking at the launch, Municipal Manager Phumudzo Magodi said the situation has reached crisis level and stressed that the intervention comes at a strategic time, with the municipality heading into the drier winter months when reduced rainfall is expected to allow for more consistent and effective road repairs.

Teixeira did not mince his words, describing the state of Midvaal’s roads as a “major crisis” and the worst he has seen in his decade-long involvement with the municipality.

He acknowledged mounting public frustration, saying he often bears the brunt of criticism from residents over deteriorating road conditions, which he in turn passes on to his teams.

The deteriorating road conditions have raised concerns among residents about vehicle damage and road safety.

Teixeira urged officials to rise to the challenge, expressing confidence in their ability to turn the situation around and stressing that their work is ultimately for the Midvaal community, who expect safe and reliable roads.

Teixeira also set an ambitious target for the campaign, saying the municipality aims to have addressed at least 80% of potholes and badly damaged roads by the end of July.

He emphasised that the focus would not only be on speed, but on the quality of repairs, urging teams to take pride in their work and ensure potholes are fixed properly.

Highlighting the extent of the problem, he pointed to several affected areas, saying, “Go to De Deur and tell me if you are proud of what you are going to find. Go to Walkerville, go to Rothdene, even here in Meyerton, there are potholes everywhere.”

He expressed confidence that the programme would deliver noticeable improvements within a short timeframe, provided teams work consistently and conditions remain favourable.

To achieve this, the municipality will ramp up resources and oversight, including the appointment of an additional contractor to help tackle the backlog, particularly in outlying areas.

Internal teams will be required to increase output, with overtime and weekend work introduced where performance justifies it.

The mayor said a significant budget will be directed towards road repairs, including resurfacing and rehabilitation in the new financial year.

Progress will be closely monitored through weekly “war room” meetings, where each team’s output will be tracked and measured against set targets.

The municipality also plans to improve the quality of repairs by focusing on proper techniques, better materials, and exploring more effective technology, while strengthening overall planning and support to ensure sustained progress.