Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
24 June 2025 | 10:30 CAT
3-minute read

Image: Newcastillian News

In a nutshell:

• The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has cautioned residents against fixing potholes themselves, warning that improper materials like sand and bricks can increase road hazards and damage vehicles.
• The JRA acknowledges public frustration over delays in pothole repairs, citing heavy rains, budget shortages, and the end of the financial year as reasons for slower response times.
• From July 1, the start of the new financial year, contractors will return to the roads, enabling the JRA to expedite both major resurfacing and minor pothole repairs across Johannesburg.

A puncture. Bent rims. A stressed suspension system. Reason? Potholes.

Numerous communities have taken it upon themselves to repair damaged roads by filling them with sand, bricks, or even tar. Now, the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has issued a severe warning to residents about the quality of the materials, which are often not up to standard and can pose a serious risk to motorists.

In an interview on Radio Islam International, the Head of Department for Regional Operations at the JRA, Khayalethu Gqibitole, said that while the JRA is constantly working to remedy the problem, work is often delayed due to the overwhelming number of potholes on Johannesburg roads.

“At times, we have heavy rains and the work that we are faced with is so much that even the timelines we are given, at times we have to delay on them, and in most cases we communicate with communities to say – we’ve got this challenge and there will be delays- but eventually we end up fixing all the potholes,” Gqibitole said.

The JRA is a municipal entity owned by the City of Johannesburg and its core function is to provide and maintain the city’s road infrastructure. It is managed by a managing director and a board of directors who report to the City Manager.

The JRA has partnered with companies to assist in the repairs, including Jozi My Jozi and Discovery Pothole Patrol. These collaborations have been facilitated through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement, Gqibitole explained.

Numerous communities have applied to the JRA to collaborate on solving the problem. However, there are currently no policies in place to regulate such arrangements.

“Currently, we’re finalising our own policy because remember these donations and everyone that wants to do this are not only doing it for the good cause of the city. Some of the initiatives have potential of damaging the reputation of the city. So we have to ensure that a process of vetting before we allow any cooperation with any community is done. A process of vetting needs to be done so that we can safeguard the reputation of the of the city,” Gqibitole said.

The JRA, while acknowledging motorists’ frustration at the extensive deterioration of the roads, emphasises that any work on road infrastructure must adhere to established rules, meet specific standards, and be done by registered professionals.

The JRA has clarified that while communities often express a willingness to assist with pothole repairs, such work must be overseen by engineers appointed by the JRA to ensure safety and technical standards. Fixing potholes is considered a temporary, “make-safe” measure and not a long-term solution. A 2017 visual assessment of the city’s roads found that most require major interventions such as rehabilitation, resurfacing, or complete reconstruction—work that demands a significantly larger budget than what is currently available.

Due to funding constraints, the city has been forced to prioritise low-cost repairs like pothole patching, which only addresses surface-level safety and not the deeper structural issues of the roads. This is why potholes often reappear shortly after being fixed. The JRA emphasised that these patching efforts are a short-term safety measure while the agency continues to seek the substantial funding required for proper, lasting road repairs.

The JRA has acknowledged public frustration over delays in pothole repairs and explained that limited capacity often hampers their ability to respond quickly. When internal resources are stretched, the JRA typically outsources some of its work to external contractors. However, with the current financial year ending, budget constraints have forced a halt on new payments and requests, further contributing to the slow response times.

The agency assured residents that from the start of the new financial year on 1 July, contractors will return to the roads, helping to fast-track outstanding maintenance. These contractors will focus on both resurfacing projects and minor repairs, such as pothole patching. This additional capacity is expected to significantly improve response times and enable the JRA to address road maintenance more efficiently.

Listen to the full interview on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.