Increased public concern about potholes on South African roads

Posted by jonckie in January 13th 2010

The Arrive Alive website received an email earlier today from a road user expressing concern with the condition of some of our roads. We would like to share this:

“For the past three years I have been travelling to Vryheid over the December Holidays and always use the R50 Delmas, Leandra, Standerton road. For the third year in a row i have suffered damages due to the horiffic potholes in the road just outside Leandra on route to Standerton. I am an extremely careful driver and had my drivers lisence for 23 years already. Some areas in the road are just big holes. I had to replace two rims, two tyres and a windscreen (hit by stone – passing truck). The last incident 22 December 2009 I had a punctured tyre, buckled rim and myself and my child was stranded next to the road at 05:30 on a deserted road – which was extremely upsetting for my child due to the high incidents of hijacks and attacks.

That road defnitely needs attention as you do not have to be under the influence of alcohol or speeding to make an accident. The dangerous road makes itself open for it. It is time to look at the state of the roads in the arrive alive campaign and not always blame dangerous driving and speeding as the cause of deaths. That road can kill!! The excess I have to pay on my insurance claim is not worth losing my no claim bonus therefore I have to repair it in cash.”

This was referred to the Department of Transport and a response was received:

Hi Amanda,

Let me first thank you for raising such a serious concern that could lead to road crashes on our roads.

The same stretch of road you referring to I am familiar with it as I was also a victim of those potholes on 20 December on my way from Northern KZN. I had to change two of my tyres that were damaged on that road.

Roads such as those, they are the responsibility of the municipality in that area and we have over the years advised the Mpumalanga Province about that area. We hope that with all the concerns flooding from the members of the public they will take a quick step in attending to the problem. I am going to forward your mail to them and will ensure that they do something about it.

Thanks once again.

Regards,

Dikotsi Sekatane
Department of Transport
Private Bag X193
Pretoria
0001