Bothasig residents call for action against potholes

A more permanent solution needs to be found to fix the potholes plaguing Bothasig as they can damage cars and cause accidents, say residents.

There were roadworks in the neighbourhood and surrounds earlier this year, but things seem to have gone backward since then, say residents like Thomas Wilke, who has lived in the area for more than 20 years.

“We’ve seen the expansion of Bothasig over the years. We’ve seen malls and schools being built in and around our area. We’ve seen housing developments go up. But at what cost? Our roads seem to be suffering. This could be because of the increase in traffic, more people in the area, etc.

“More people using the sewerage system means it gets blocked quicker. Not to say that the developments over the years have not helped, but I am worried that certain parts of our infrastructure here are getting damaged by the day, and there does not seem to be a permanent solution here.”

Another resident, Theresa Romain, said that from driving around the area in the past two weeks she had struggled to find a street without potholes.

“We have Mostert Street, Visagie Street, D’Urban Street, Boom Street, Steenoven Street, De Grendel Avenue. These are just a few. It is ridiculous that we pay so much in rates and taxes and this is the level of service we are getting.

“We report all the time on the things that happen in our community, but no one seems to care. It seems to be that the City and other government institutions only look like they want to help us out when it’s election time.”

Ward councillor Miquette Temlett said the City had done extensive road resurfacing in the area last year.

“Unlike pothole repairs, which are categorised under general operational repairs and maintenance, road resurfacing is a planned capital project, budgeted for well in advance. For pothole repairs, residents are encouraged to log service requests with the City. Please send the reference numbers to me for escalation with the department. We ask for residents' patience as the department is currently addressing the aftermath of the recent severe weather. Pothole repairs will be prioritised as soon as urgent weather-related issues are resolved,” she said.

Flooding was not a result of poor road management, she said, adding, “The severe rainfall, stagnant water on roadways, and localised flooding have caused substantial damage. No road infrastructure is capable of withstanding such extreme natural forces.”

Bothasig’s stormwater system had been thoroughly cleaned several times ahead of winter, but it had still been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of rain in a short period during “exceptional weather conditions”, she said, adding that the City was still busy with extensive mop-up operations across the metro.