A year later, and after the rainy season, the busy Vincent Tshabalala Road has still not been fixed.
Instead, the potholes have trebled, deepened and widened posing more danger to motorists and passengers. Motorists seem to have resigned to using a single lane of the road going westwards between 5th and 6th avenues. This causes traffic congestion at peak times, potential road rage and accidents as vehicles veer into the single lane.
Also, storm drain water continues to run down the road, depositing rubbish and rubble. This conceals some of the potholes from unsuspecting motorists.
Area councillor Mokgadi Radebe has, in several reports in this paper, said that the Joburg Roads Agency knew of the bad condition of the road. She said the repair would involve fixing the sources of the running water, which is attributed residents and unused factories along the road leaving taps dripping and also the continuous flow from the storm water drains. “Without this, it would be fruitless and not cost-effective as the road would, if fixed, be weakened and damaged again by the water.”
A concerned resident Joseph Matlala said the road, which is a major economic route between Joburg CBD, Sandton, the Eastrand and OR Tambo Airport, has not received the attention it deserves compared to other secondary roads of lesser economic value. He said this shows the disregard given to local residents and to passing motorists. A concerned Radebe said the neglect is worrying as she tried, but failed, in the past to bring together Joburg Water and Joburg Roads Agency officials to devise a plan to fix the road.
“I have no other option now but to seek the mayor’s intervention,” she concluded. The departments’ couldn’t be reached for comment at the time of print.
