Sandown Estate residents fill potholes despite Johannesburg Roads Agency warning

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01-07-2026
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Sandton Chronicle
Source

Sandown Estate residents joined forces to repair potholes themselves, citing ongoing road deterioration and slow municipal response as reasons for taking action, despite various warnings from JRA not to do so.

A group of Sandown Estate residents have launched a community-driven initiative to repair potholes in their neighbourhood, after becoming frustrated with the deteriorating condition of local roads.

Resident Stan Shane said worsening road conditions have become a major concern for those living in the area. “The deteriorating state of the area was starting to frustrate residents.”

Shane said, rather than waiting for municipal repairs, they decided to contribute towards purchasing materials and carrying out the work themselves. “We found out that Builders sells 25kg of tar for approximately R150, and the average pothole in this area took about half a bag.”

Shane said one of the larger potholes required three bags of tar to repair. “That one was one that if you drove in it, you would have to fix your rims and buy a new tyre.”

According to Shane, the repairs were neither complicated nor costly. “It is an easy job. We didn’t take long, and it wasn’t expensive.”

Ward 91 councillor Andrew Stewart, who joined residents on a walk through one of the repaired streets, said the initiative demonstrated the community’s determination to improve its surroundings. “Residents shouldn’t be doing this, but seeing these fast results, it is somehow helping the residents with service delivery.”

He added that while road maintenance remains the responsibility of the municipality, the residents’ actions showed what could be achieved when communities worked together to address local challenges.

Responding to questions from the newspaper, Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) acting head of department for regional operations Mpho Maruping said the agency was aware of the pothole complaints in Sandown, and had been carrying out repairs in the area. “Inspections have been conducted throughout the area, and several roads have already been repaired. Additional roads have been identified and are scheduled for repairs.”

He said JRA teams were deployed to Sandown weekly as part of ongoing pothole repair and maintenance efforts, and that a plan had been implemented to address defects on all identified roads. Maruping explained that many of the roads in Sandown had reached the end of their design lifespan and were experiencing significant deterioration. “As a result, these roads require comprehensive rehabilitation, rather than routine maintenance repairs.”

Maruping did warn, however, that residents are not permitted to carry out repairs on municipal infrastructure without approval. “Residents who undertake work on municipal infrastructure without obtaining the necessary approvals and following the prescribed processes are acting in contravention of applicable legislation and city by-laws. No individual or organisation is permitted to carry out work on municipal infrastructure without prior approval.”

Maruping added that unauthorised work on municipal roads could create safety, quality, and liability concerns and urged residents to report road defects through the city’s official channels. “Residents are implored to report road infrastructure defects to JRA by means of the various platforms that JRA and the City of Johannesburg have made available. Any organisation that is interested in a collaboration initiative with JRA should approach JRA directly.”

While no specific timeline has been provided for the rehabilitation or resurfacing of roads in Sandown, Maruping said maintenance activities in the suburb and surrounding areas would continue as part of JRA’s ongoing road maintenance programme.