Adopt-a-Robot campaign hits a wall

The highly anticipated Adopt-a-Robot project initiated by residents’ associations (RAs) seems to have grinded to a halt due to the arduous bureaucratic processes of the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA).

According to Willowbrook, Ruimsig, Amorosa and Poortview (WRAP) RA chair, Martin van der Westhuizen, the project was off to a flying start initially.

“We did a lot of groundwork with the JRA as well as with local businesses to identify and secure the ‘adoption’ of problematic intersections throughout the region.

“We have businesses that are ready to move forward, but the process seems to have stalled from JRA’s side.”

Van der Westhuizen says that the relevant service level agreements are in place and businesses are on board and ready to proceed.

• Read the initial article here: Adopt-a-Robot campaign gains momentum

“The only things that remain is for JRA to issue the relevant wayleaves to allow for the work to be done, and then to schedule the connections.

“We have been in constant contact to try and speed up this process, but there seems to be no real movement on this.”

The Northsider has tried to get in contact with JRA communications officer Bertha Scheepers to enquire about the slow progress of this process but with no luck.

A list of questions has also been sent to Scheepers, but messages have thus far gone unanswered.

According to Van der Westhuizen, the other problem currently experienced is getting the provincial road agencies on board with the project.

“We have sent numerous emails and requests to the provincial departments, which have all seemingly fallen on deaf ears,” he says.

“This does not mean that we have given up. We will continue to put pressure on the relevant authorities to push this critical initiative through.”

The Adopt-a-Robot project, which will see local businesses connect intersections throughout the Northside to their various backup power sources, aims to ease congestion and allow for free traffic flow during load-shedding.