You published an article in the newspaper dated April 29 with the headline: “How to claim for pothole damages”.
Send your letters to bctletters@caxton.co.za.
The comment from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) is a joke.
If people who do not reside in Benoni come to visit the East Rand and they hit a pothole and damage their vehicle, how are they supposed to know whether the pothole was reported or not?
The municipality should have people who drive around Benoni to document the location of potholes, to make sure that the potholes are fixed.
It is not for the public to report these issues, because not many people have the municipality’s telephone numbers and reported potholes are never attended to.
The staff at the municipality earn money and are not interested in giving good service to the public who pay for car licences, rates and taxes.
Hartley Street, in Rynfield, needs to be resurfaced from Potgieter to Parker streets, as this road was used by big trucks while they were working on Pretoria Road.
There are also two deep holes when one turns left from Hartley Street, into Potgieter Street, which has never been attended to.
President Brand Street always has potholes that have not been repaired.
Speed humps also need to be clearly marked on President Brand Street, with paint, because that road is very busy.
Editor’s note: Themba Gadebe, EMM spokesperson, commented in the article referred to in the letter:
“In order for council to accept liability for any claim made against it, it needs to be proven by the claimant that council was negligent or caused accidental damage to the third party’s property.
“The proof should indicate that the municipality was aware of the pothole and failed to take action within a reasonable time, to safeguard residents from the hazard.”
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