Potholes surge hits Ekurhuleni: Here’s the plan

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26-11-2025
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Benoni City Times
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The worsening road conditions have raised questions about the metro’s readiness to manage weather-related road defects across the city.

Recent heavy rains have left key routes and neighbourhood streets across the City of Ekurhuleni increasingly riddled with potholes, creating significant safety hazards for motorists and pedestrians alike.

Residents in several communities have already been voicing growing frustration over the ongoing deterioration of the city’s road network, with many questioning the municipality’s ability to respond swiftly to the escalating number of potholes across the metro.

In response to these concerns, the Boksburg Advertiser contacted the metro to assess its state of readiness to address weather-related road damage this rainy season and to understand the measures being taken to tackle the worsening pothole problem.

Here is what the metro had to say regarding the road defects that are causing mounting frustration for motorists:
What contingency plans are currently in place to respond to the existing and expected sharp increase in potholes across the road network during the rainy season?

The city has the Sivala Ama Potholes programme, which involves rapid-response teams deployed across the network to repair potholes as they are reported. In addition, seasonal blitz teams are scheduled to address backlog repairs and any new potholes arising from recent rainfall. These teams are equipped with mobile repair units and materials to ensure timely patching.

Is additional funding or emergency resourcing being allocated to road maintenance teams to deal with the surge in pothole repairs during this rainy period? If so, what are the amounts and timelines?

Emergency resourcing has been allocated to support the heightened repair demand during the rainy season. This includes additional crews, temporary equipment and an increased supply of cold and hot-mix asphalt. While exact funding allocations are being finalised for this season, resources are deployed in line with the severity and prioritisation of the road network.

What preventive measures, such as improved drainage systems or early road surface treatments, are being implemented to minimise pothole formation and flooding before severe weather hits?

Preventive measures have been implemented to reduce pothole formation and road flooding. These include:

• Cleaning and maintenance of drainage systems prior to and during the rainy season
• Surface treatment programmes on high-traffic roads to strengthen asphalt and prevent water infiltration
• Regular inspections and minor repairs on vulnerable road sections before severe weather hits

Prioritising repairs on roads posing the greatest safety risks: Which roads receive urgent repairs?
Repairs are prioritised based on safety risk, traffic volume and the criticality of the route. Roads serving emergency services, public transport corridors and high-traffic residential areas receive urgent attention. Specific lists are maintained by the road maintenance teams to ensure no high-risk road is overlooked.

We understand that there are multiple platforms available to the public to flag dangerous potholes. What guarantees can the city give regarding response times and accountability once reports are lodged?

Residents can continue to report dangerous potholes via multiple platforms, including the city’s mobile app, hotline and official social media channels. The city has committed to acknowledging all reports within 24 hours and providing timelines for repair based on priority.

Response performance is monitored daily by the maintenance teams to ensure accountability and transparency.