COJ Launches R150 Million Pothole Repair Program

The City of Johannesburg (COJ) is actively working to restore its aging road infrastructure, with the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) setting aside R149.9 million for a comprehensive pothole and resurfacing campaign during the 2025/26 fiscal year.

This initiative targets crucial regions including Kliptown, Nasrec, Eldorado Park, Sandton, and segments of the M1, with the goal of revitalizing 85 km of severely damaged roads.

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As per a release from the COJ, the chosen areas were identified through a Visual Conditions Assessment (VCA) that evaluates roads across a range from “poor” to “very good.”

Targeted Approach

Roads categorized as “very poor” will be subject to either reconstruction or resurfacing. This targeted method seeks to address roads that have exceeded their functional lifespan, especially those serving high traffic, public transport, and vital freight routes.

The COJ mentioned that this initiative will run alongside the JRA’s extensive road maintenance contract, which encompasses pothole patching, crack sealing, and deep patching.

The JRA intends to use asphalt manufactured at its Booysens Asphalt Plant, ensuring that high standards of quality and efficiency are maintained.

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In addition, the JRA has launched a regional road reinstatement program to restore roads and sidewalks impacted by other service providers.

The COJ clarified that the majority of excavations are attributed to infrastructure repairs by Johannesburg Water (JW) within the road reserve. Consequently, the JRA and JW have created a Service Level Agreement that has effectively addressed 75% of the citywide backlog of 10,000 reinstatements for the current fiscal year.

“We understand the significant frustration stemming from the current state of the city’s roads,” said JRA CEO Zweli Nyathi.

“This increased budget, up from R105 million last year, highlights our commitment to addressing roads that have deteriorated beyond repair and aims to restore public trust in our infrastructure. We are dedicated to providing tangible improvements to alleviate the daily challenges faced by commuters,” Nyathi further commented.

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This follows Johannesburg’s Mayor Dada Morero proclaiming a war on potholes as he highlighted the COJ’s disrepair, calling it a crisis.

Bomb Squad Introduced

As part of the initial mission of the Presidential Support Package—a comprehensive turnaround strategy—a bomb squad has been established to identify and mitigate systemic barriers hindering service delivery and development.

The squad is led by the 73-year-old Dr. Snuki Joseph Zikalala.

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According to Discovery’s Pothole Patrol, which was launched in 2021, over 280,000 potholes have been repaired thus far in collaboration with the JRA.

This initiative employs eight road repair vehicles daily to enhance the JRA’s capacity.

Using the geolocation-enabled Pothole Patrol app, citizens can log and report potholes within the JRA’s jurisdiction. Once a pothole is reported, an inspector is sent to the location.

Kenny Kunene, the COJ’s Member of the Mayoral Committee for Transport, acknowledges the historical challenges contributing to the road infrastructure backlog.

“Certain areas of Johannesburg’s road infrastructure were not designed to accommodate today’s traffic volumes. Resurfacing major arterial roads is vital for ensuring safe and efficient mobility, particularly on municipal highways and essential commuter routes that are key for the city’s economic and social development,” Kunene remarked.

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