​The Smart Mobility Weekends service delivery campaign entered its second week on 17 and 18 April 2021, with the programme already yielding positive results in addressing major road defects within the inner city.

The initiative by the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GPDRT) in partnership with the City of Johannesburg focused on pothole repairs, road reinstatements, skoffelling on the islands and verges of the roads, and other road maintenance work.

The GPDRT and the JRA’s maintenance teams’ joint efforts resulted in 25 potholes repaired on Saturday.

The JRA’s CEO, Republic Monakedi, said the teams exceeded the initial target for pothole repairs, resulting in defects backlog being reduced. “We’ve inspected and identified 51 sites that needed urgent attention. Areas such as Hillbrow, Malvern, Doornfontein, Observatory, Parktown, Yeoville, Turffontein and Gillview are among those we’ve prioritised,” said Monakedi.

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Transport in the City of Johannesburg Cllr Nonhlanhla Makhuba said: “We are committed to providing safe and accessible roads for our communities. This joint venture with the provincial department has given us an opportunity to fast-track road repairs especially in roads where there is shared jurisdiction between the city and province.”

On the restoration of the asphalt plant’s restoration, the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Geoffrey Makhubo, said: “I’m happy that the plant is fully operational and is supplying asphalt to all the depots. The people of Johannesburg can rest assured that the state of the city’s roads will improve.”

On Sunday, the maintenance team had completed 1.5km of skoffelling in that area, and a total of 99.5 m2 in reinstatements at various sites.

Roads and Transport MEC Jacob Mamabolo said that road repairs are meant to give the roads a “new lease of life” and to sustain economic activity. He said there are various factors resulting in the City’s deteriorated roads, and particularly highlighted the importance of caring for the road infrastructure. “Water spillages from both residential and business activities in the Johannesburg CBD contributes largely to the damage of the roads.”

The Smart Mobility Weekends campaign will continue for the next six months to ensure that the quality of the city’s road network and its infrastructure is improved.

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