The war on potholes continues with all eyes on Region B
BORDEAUX – As it relaunches its War on Potholes campaign, JRA encourages the ward councillors to hold the entity to account on its lack of performance.
The war on potholes continues with all eyes on Region B.
The City of Johannesburg and the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) relaunched its War on Potholes campaign on 25 August in Bordeaux. Through a reinstatement blitz, the agency hopes to fast-track road surface reinstatements across the city to help alleviate the backlog that was accumulated in the lockdown.
MMC of Transport Nonhlanhla Makhuba kicked off the relaunch with JRA’s head of regional operations Muziwandile Nkonyane and Ward 102 councillor David Potter.
Nkonyane estimated that if all went well, the agency would complete an estimated 150 reinstatements in Region B by at the latest, the second week of October. “Ideally we will move as fast as we can and we encourage the [ward] councillors to track our progress and hold us accountable,” he said.
Potter, who has actively communicated the frustrations of the residents in his ward regarding road surface reinstatements, was wary of the agency’s expectations and projections. “For years the JRA has been asleep at the wheel with regards to many basic service delivery functions, especially when it comes to reinstatements,” he said.
Potter added that, as a ward councillor, it could become frustrating because the residents were left with these long-term problems.
“Not a month goes by that JRA does not have something they need, from tar to nuts and bolts, to armco barriers, signs, paint or brushes etc. The management of the JRA should be ashamed at how this entity is run.”
Makhuba admitted that JRA has had its problems, including the complete halt in service delivery experienced during lockdown Level 5 which further increased the backlog of road defects. “Under level 5 and 4, JRA was not categorised as an essential service hence the high number of outstanding road-related defects. Under Level 3, only a third of JRA’s workforce was able to return to work,” she added.
Nkonyane emphasised that under Level 2, JRA was now operating at full capacity. “Contractors have been appointed to augment the workforce and enhance service delivery. The blitz will kick off in Region B which currently has 149 outstanding reinstatements – seven teams of contractors will work on the reinstatements across the region,” he added.
Makhuba said, “I feel that it is important for the residents to understand that as this administration, we want to do things right. However, we are working tirelessly to ensure that [the] city roads are accessible and safe.”
Potter concluded, “I truly hope that this is the last time we have to meet to discuss reinstatements. This song is getting tiring. Just do the work that you are mandated to do as the Joburg Roads Agency, in each and every one of the 135 wards in our city and start to communicate more with ward councillors who are after all the elected representatives in the City.”
Related articles:
https://www.citizen.co.za/randburg-sun/289554/when-will-you-ever-fix-it-jra/
