The no-pothole zone initiative from Craig Residents Association

As mounting anger and frustration by residents over the declining state of the roads continue to plague their suburb, the Craig Park Residents Association (CRA) has kick-started a road repair project.

The association went to fix a large pothole on the corner of Richmond and Buckingham avenues in Craighall on March 15. CRA chairperson Markus Borner said the pothole was dangerous to motorists and might have caused more accidents in the area. The vision of the association is to have its streets pothole-free by the end of this year.

Committee member and project champion Joss du Trevou said they undertook an analysis of the number of calls they logged with the City of Johannesburg’s Roads Agency (JRA) and Joburg Water on behalf of residents. Not one of the 12 major potholes nor reinstatements, which were repeatedly reported over several years and escalated to the Mayoral Committee last year, have been attended to. They went as far as to log a complaint with the City of Johannesburg Ombudsman, to no avail.

Du Trevou said,”Our next step was to log the potholes with Discovery and Dial Direct’s Pothole Patrol, who attended to a handful of the potholes in their area. This still leaves us with an ever-growing list of unresolved potholes and road repairs, which we find dangerous and a hazard to our residents, motorists and pedestrians alike.”

The JRA spokesperson, Zoleka Jika, said that there is a possibility of the matter being a reinstatement issue as opposed to a pothole, and in such cases, the pipe repair would have to be completed before the road is reinstated. Their team will inspect the corner of Buckingham and Richmond avenues.

With encouragement from the residents, the CRA decided to run a this project privately to fix the potholes in the neighbourhood. Residents were asked if they would like to contribute to the project. The CRA has been overwhelmed by the support they have received. To date, they have raised well in excess of R20 000 in donations, and fixed over 20 potholes in just over a month. Craighall Park resident Bruce Bowden manages the repair team, which includes his sons Caleb and Benjamin. All donations are used to fund the purchase of materials, and create employment for Vusi and Gideonne, who were previously unemployed.

Borner said, “We have been forced to take matters into our own hands, but we continue to be open, willing and eager to work with the city to formalise a more long-term, sustainable solution to our ever-growing pothole and infrastructure problem. The CRA believes we have an opportunity through active citizenry and joint collaboration with JRA to not only improve the state of our suburb, but to create employment opportunities too.”

Related Article:

VOX POP: The effects of potholes for the residents of Craighall Park