COJ Launches R150 Million Pothole Repair Program

The City of Johannesburg (COJ) is taking substantial steps to mend its crumbling roads, with the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) setting aside R149.9 million for a large-scale pothole and resurfacing project in the 2025/26 fiscal year.

This initiative targets crucial regions, including Kliptown, Nasrec, Eldorado Park, Sandton, and portions of the M1, with an objective to rehabilitate 85 km of severely damaged roads.

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As stated by the COJ, the selected areas were identified through a Visual Conditions Assessment (VCA), which evaluates roads using categories ranging from “poor” to “very good.”

Targeted Approach

Roads rated as “very poor” will either be reconstructed or resurfaced. This targeted approach aims to resolve issues on roads that have exceeded their functional lifespan, especially those catering to high traffic, public transport, and vital freight routes.

The COJ emphasized that this initiative will coincide with the JRA’s extensive road maintenance agreement, which encompasses pothole patching, crack sealing, and deep patching.

The JRA intends to use asphalt produced at its Booysens Asphalt Plant, ensuring superior quality and efficiency.

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Additionally, the JRA has launched a regional road reinstatement program to repair roads and sidewalks affected by other service providers.

The COJ indicated that most excavations stem from infrastructure repairs conducted by Johannesburg Water (JW) within the road reserve. As a result, the JRA and JW have formed a Service Level Agreement that has effectively managed 75% of the 10,000 reinstatement backlog citywide for the current fiscal year.

“We understand the considerable frustration stemming from the current state of the city’s roads,” stated JRA CEO Zweli Nyathi.

“This increased funding, which rises from R105 million in the last fiscal year, highlights our dedication to addressing roads that have fallen into disrepair and aims to restore public trust in our infrastructure. We are committed to delivering tangible improvements to alleviate the daily difficulties faced by commuters,” Nyathi added.

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This follows Johannesburg’s Mayor Dada Morero declaring a war on potholes, describing the COJ’s neglect as a crisis.

Bomb Squad Introduced

As part of the Presidential Support Package’s initial initiative—a comprehensive turnaround strategy—a bomb squad has been created to identify and remove systemic barriers impeding service delivery and development.

The squad is led by 73-year-old Dr. Snuki Joseph Zikalala.

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According to Discovery’s Pothole Patrol, initiated in 2021, over 280,000 potholes have been repaired thus far through collaboration with the JRA.

This initiative employs eight road repair vehicles daily to enhance the JRA’s capacity.

Kenny Kunene, the COJ’s Member of the Mayoral Committee for Transport, acknowledges the historical challenges contributing to the backlog in road infrastructure.

“Certain areas of Johannesburg’s road infrastructure were not constructed to support current traffic volumes. Resurfacing primary arterial roads is critical for ensuring safe and efficient mobility, especially on municipal highways and essential commuter routes vital for the city’s economic and social development,” Kunene stated.

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