Johannesburg Roads Agency has 10 725 reinstatement jobs to attend to

The entity scores itself more than 3 out of 5 in terms of performance and service delivery despite many of the city's roads, storm water drains, and traffic lights being faulty.

An illegal pointsman directs traffic.

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Online headline: Johannesburg Roads Agency has 10 725 reinstatement jobs to attend to

Online teaser: The entity scores itself more than 3 out of 5 in terms of performance and service delivery despite many of the city’s roads, storm water drains, and traffic lights being faulty.

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Emily Wellman Bain, Waydon Jacobs, and Aimee McGill
nmt@caxton.co.za

There are aspects to living in a failing city that some residents will be lucky enough to never face – public healthcare, policing, and so on. But there is one aspect that is incredibly in-your-face, an aspect that cannot be ignored by a single person, and in our city, that aspect is overseen by the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA).

Poorly tarmacked and potholed roads, out of order traffic lights, massive dongas left unattended for months, and unkempt road markings have become an unfortunate daily occurrence within the City of Johannesburg (CoJ).

“Not one day has gone by this year when every traffic light on my way to work has been working. In fact, there are far more not working than those actually functioning properly. The traffic is a nightmare and the informal pointsmen make things worse,” said resident Robert Davis-Hannibal.
Imagine what these constant failures on the part of the city do to the mental health of residents who find themselves constantly dodging the effects of poor service delivery.

This shouldn’t be the case. The local economy relies on vehicles being able to safely navigate the roads and for pedestrians to be able to get from place to place.

Julia Fish, regional manager for JoburgCAN (an OUTA initiative) stated that every aspect of our lives is intricately connected to the state of our roads and public infrastructure. “As we take our children to school and manage our daily commutes, we are constantly reminded of the inconveniences and time lost due to poorly maintained road networks.

“This affects, not only our schedules but also our finances and quality of life. The broken window theory illustrates this perfectly: when an area looks neglected, people tend to avoid it, leading to a further decline in investment and community engagement.”

Ward 101 councillor Ralf Bittkau says, “the atrocious state of our roads and the number of potholes has been well documented, and everybody encounters it daily; on top of this the lack of weed control and scoffeling adds to the scruffy look of this city.

“JRA is responsible for: the planning, design, construction, operation, control, rehabilitation, and maintenance of the roads and storm water infrastructure in the CoJ. The main responsibilities include the construction and maintenance of: bridges, culverts, traffic signals, traffic signal systems, footways, road signage, and road markings.”

Some of the complaints raised by residents and ward councillors are:
• Poor quality road surfaces,
• Potholes not filled,
• Irregular skoffeling (clearing/cleaning of pavements, etc),
• Broken traffic lights,
• Johannesburg Water reinstatements not back filled,
• Infrastructure repairs not done to timelines,
• Traffic calming measures not implemented,
• Street name signs missing and not replaced, and
• Dangerous pavements for people to walk on.

SUBHEAD: The problem with contractors

Delays to starting or finishing larger jobs, like repairing and upgrading the Greymont Bridge, which remains unusable since 2018, are often due to appointed service providers being unable to carry out the work. Appointing and reappointing contractors can take years, with each hiccup costing taxpayers millions.

When a tender is published, inviting contractors to apply for the job, they are reviewed against their ability and functionality criteria, and submit financials to be evaluated. The bid is then scored. It is often only once a company has been awarded the tender, and work has begun, that JRA realises they can’t carry out the work to scope, or lack the funds to procure materials or pay workers.

Bertha Peters-Scheepers, spokesperson for JRA, says, “for poor performing contractors, punitive measures are implemented and the whole process begins again to find new service providers.”

There is currently no ‘black book’ of contractors who have performed badly, meaning they can keep reapplying for work for the city regardless of previous performance.

SUBHEAD: Reinstatement nightmare

A reinstatement is restoring an object to its former condition. An example is when Johannesburg Water (JW) digs a crater in a road to fix or replace a pipe and the road surface needs to be repaired. This repair is called a reinstatement, and needs to be done by JRA.

Previous arrangements permitted JW to do this work, but JRA say the quality of the work was unacceptable and as such has opted to do the work itself.

“Issues such as improper layer works, and insufficient compaction led to subsidence in many areas. As of July, JW handed over 5 803 reinstatements to us to handle.”

The total number of reinstatements outstanding on their books is a staggering 10 725.

PULL QUOTE; There is no formal timeframe for completing these jobs.

Peters-Scheepers says, “the general agreed-upon timeframe for completing reinstatements depends on the severity and size of the work, typically ranging from one to 14 days. For more complex cases, such as those involving significant water or sewer damage, additional drying time of 3 to 7 days may be required before work can be done.”

Ward 94 councillor David Folley says, “JRA reinstatements could be faster but when priority is given to other wards and regions for political gain we just lose out with timeous service.”

SUBHEAD: Traffic light conundrum

Between December 2021 and January 2022, 172 traffic signals were damaged due to theft, vandalism, or accidents. This costs millions of rands that could be used to improve other road infrastructure.

“In the past three years alone, JRA has spent over R15m rebuilding vandalised traffic intersections. In certain instances, criminals have gone as far as stealing specific components of traffic lights, for example at the intersection of Marlboro Drive, Far Eastbank Drive, and North Way in Kelvin, a mere seven days after they had been installed,” says Peters-Scheepers

Over the past four years, 531 (about 25%) of Johannesburg’s 2 028 signalised traffic intersections have been vandalised by criminals using angle grinders to cut down the traffic signal poles at a replacement cost of R28.1m.

Between January 2022 and January 2023, the above figure has increased by 172 vandalised intersections and this number has likely gone up since then.

Peters-Scheepers says certain traffic intersections have since been wired with aluminium cladding around copper cables that make them worthless as soon as it is burnt.

It costs between R250 000 to R400 000 to rebuild an intersection depending on the nature of the fault or damage.

SUBHEAD: The pothole problem

Potholes are dangerous and damaging to the vehicles that drive into them says Danny Nunes, of the Melville Security Initiative and CREASS Community Services.

He, and others like the Northcliff Rotary, have been filling dangerous potholes after receiving wayleaves from JRA.
However, community members cannot simply fix their own potholes as they wish, no matter how good intentioned they may be. They need permission from JRA, and this is not granted lightly.
JRA has a clear stance regarding community members who attempt to fill in potholes that have been reported but remain unfixed. As the official custodian of roads within the municipal jurisdiction, JRA is the only entity authorised to repair, construct, maintain, and manage road infrastructure.

Khaya Gqibitole, JRA head of department (HOD) for Regional Operations, stated, “residents or Residential Associations are not permitted to undertake repairs on potholes or any other road infrastructure.”

This policy is reinforced by CoJ by-laws, which explicitly prohibits any individual from defacing, tampering with, or interfering with the council’s property or work on public roads.

The Pothole Patrol, which operates under a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the CoJ and JRA, is responsible for addressing pothole issues.

Gqibitole further explained, “it would be unfair for JRA to take responsibility for the safety and quality of work performed by someone else. Therefore, residents are strongly advised to report any defects, including potholes, through the proper channels to ensure that the issues are addressed promptly and safely.”

Recently a community action group in Randburg fixed their own pothole, without the relevant wayleave, only to have JRA dig it up again. JRA did however then fix the pothole, again.

SUBHEAD: Current Budget Allocation

JRA has set its Capital Expenditure Budget (CAPEX) at R860m for the fiscal year 2023/2024. This marks a significant decline from previous years, where the budget was R1.3b in 2018.

HOD of Planning Musa Mkhacane commented on this reduction, stating, “the decline in our budget allocation impacts our ability to maintain and develop the city’s road infrastructure effectively.”

Kwazelela Mcetywa, JRA HOD for Infrastructure Development, highlighted the challenges posed by budget constraints, indicating that the agency is continually working to address the infrastructure needs of Johannesburg, despite financial limitations.

JRA’s budget shortfall reflects the ongoing struggle to meet the city’s infrastructure demands, particularly in light of the significant backlog in road maintenance and development. The agency’s commitment to maintaining road safety and quality remains steadfast, even as it navigates these financial challenges.

In the last financial year, JRA’s budget was R859m, and it faces an infrastructure backlog exceeding R154b. The decreasing budget allocations means that it will take much longer to address this backlog.

To address urgent issues such as potholes and traffic disruptions, JRA has established an emergency response unit that conducts inspections across major routes. This ‘proactive’ approach aims to mitigate road related issues before they escalate. However, in further comment, JRA states that they prioritise spending based on road classification and condition assessments. So, essentially, the worse the condition of the road, the sooner it will have budget allocated to its repair. One wonders how the entity will ever dig itself out of the hole it is in, if maintenance of roads is put on the back burner and only critical issues are addressed.

SUBHEAD: Transparency and Accountability Measures

JRA is committed to maintaining transparency and accountability in its financial management. Lufuno Mashau, the CFO, emphasised, “our procurement processes are open and strictly adhere to the provisions of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), including all relevant regulations and JRA’s Supply Chain Management (SCM) policy.”

He outlined several key measures that ensure accountability:

• Adherence to financial regulations: JRA complies with all local and national financial regulations, ensuring that funds are managed legally.
• Audits: Regular external audits by independent auditors, along with internal audits, help identify discrepancies and improve financial practices.
• Public reporting: JRA produces detailed financial reports, including annual financial statements, which are submitted to the CoJ and made available to the public.
• Governance and oversight: JRA’s board of directors oversees financial decisions, ensuring accountability in all actions.
• Whistleblower protections: The agency encourages reporting of financial misconduct, fostering a culture of accountability.

SUBHEAD: Key Projects and Initiatives

Looking ahead, JRA has several key projects planned for the upcoming year.

Kwazelela Mcetywa, HOD of Infrastructure Development, highlighted the following initiatives:

• Rehabilitation of bridges (currently in the design and construction stage).
• Conversion of open drains.
• City-wide road resurfacing.
• Resurfacing of the M1 and M2 motorways.
• Resurfacing of the Soweto motorway.
• Upgrading signalized traffic intersections.
• Appointment of small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs).
• Implementation of Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) jobs.

According to Peters-Scheepers, JRA actively seeks community feedback to inform its planning and decision making processes. This engagement occurs through Integrated Development Programmes (IDP), community surveys, regional engagements, and active social media presence on platforms like Facebook and X (formally Twitter).

So, what is the plan? The challenges faced by the entity while understandable are never going to go away, so one must assume that it has a plan for a sustainable future for the city’s road infrastructure. Looking forward, JRA says that it recognises the necessity for innovative strategies to maintain service delivery despite funding challenges. While funding remains a significant hurdle, the agency is exploring alternative solutions, including the potential use of Asphalt plants to enhance operational efficiency and improve road quality in the coming years.

Fish mentioned that Parktown North, for example, was one of the worst road networks she has encountered in the country, suffering from a severe lack of maintenance. “This suburb is struggling, and the implications are dire. Most of the money people invest is tied up in their homes, yet the surrounding infrastructure is falling apart.”

It becomes incredibly dangerous, particularly for those who cannot afford vehicle repairs. When cars are running poorly, and can’t be properly maintained, it leads to serious accidents as vehicles land in potholes and other hazards, according to Fish.

She frustratingly pointed out this is not merely an economic issue. “It’s a catastrophe waiting to happen. Lives are at risk, and when people are forced to take alternative routes, traffic congestion worsens, leading to longer travel times.”

Fish voiced that JRA bears responsibility for implementing traffic calming measures and maintaining safe road conditions, yet these issues persist. “Street signs have become almost irrelevant as most of us rely on Google Maps for navigation. The pavements and sidewalks are in disrepair, leaving pedestrians vulnerable as they are forced to walk on the roadways.”

She added that the failure of storm water drains exacerbates the situation, causing further degradation and flooding on our roads.

The city is no longer people-centric, it has become overwhelmingly road-centric. With increasing vehicle numbers and a deteriorating infrastructure, we are struggling to navigate the very roads we have.

Fish concluded that if we do not address these issues, the economic consequences will be severe, and the quality of life for residents will continue to diminish. “It’s time to take action and prioritise the necessary repairs and upgrades to our infrastructure. Our lives depend on it.”

Regional Depots: Johannesburg Road Agency

Region A areas (Midrand)

• Diepsloot
• Kya Sands
• Dainfern
• Midrand
• Lanseria
• Fourways

Region B areas (Strydom Park and Waterval)

• Randburg
• Rosebank
• Emmarentia
• Greenside
• Melville
• Mayfair
• Northcliff
• Parktown
• Parktown North

Region C areas (Hamberg)

• Roodepoort
• Constantia Kloof
• Northgate
• Florida
• Bram Fischerville

Region D areas (Dobsonville)

• Doornkop
• Soweto
• Dobsonville
• Protea Glen

Region E areas (Norwood and Zandfontein)

• Alexandra
• Wynberg
• Sandton
• Orange Grove
• Houghton

Region F areas (Benrose in Newtown)