Long awaited fixes begin on President Fouché Drive

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06-05-2025
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Randburg Sun
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Following community complaints and a councillor’s efforts, JRA has started repairing underground infrastructure along President Fouché Drive, addressing long-standing road and drainage problems.

Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has started long-awaited repair work on President Fouché Drive, following ongoing calls for action from Ward 101 councillor Ralf Bittkau.

“This is part of the service delivery we’ve been fighting for,” Bittkau said. “JRA is finally on-site to carry out the necessary repairs, and we’ll continue to monitor progress.”

Residents have long raised concerns about the state of President Fouché Drive, especially the poor road conditions and repeated drainage problems. The councillor’s video update has been well received, with many residents praising the transparency and efforts to improve accountability.

Resident Gaynor Neil shared her thoughts. “To be honest, we are just happy to see that work is going ahead. We have waited three weeks, with all the impact of a major road closure, so, we would rather see them take the time and do a proper job.”

Although JRA has not yet given a timeline for how long the repairs will take, the community is hopeful that this marks the start of regular maintenance on the road.

One of the challenges faced was delays in getting heavy machinery, like a TLB (tractor-loader-backhoe), to the site. According to JRA acting CEO Zweli Nyathi, the machine had to be returned to the depot after it was deemed unsafe to travel the distance without a proper escort. He confirmed that the TLB is expected to be brought to the site with the correct escort.

“Unfortunately, we are unable to control driver behaviour, when it comes to ignoring road closures,” said Nyathi. “A standby team has also addressed potholes on CR Swart Drive, to make them safe for the long weekend. Permanent repairs are scheduled for Tuesday.”

Though frustrations remain, the community is hopeful that visible action means their concerns are finally being taken seriously. JRA has yet to provide a full timeline for completion, but Randburg Sun will continue to follow up.