Are residents allowed to repair potholes? This is what the law says
While their actions may have been driven by good intentions, the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) says that these DIY repairs are not only discouraged, they're against the law.
The JRA was responding to claims that residents, frustrated by delays, had begun handling repairs themselves.
Concerned about the danger potholes were posing to drivers, a pothole-repair effort was led by the Sunninghill Community Ratepayers Association.
The initiative saw volunteers and residents band together to fix more than 155 potholes after multiple reports to the JRA went unaddressed.
While the JRA does welcome community involvement, communications officer Mosa Makhalima says these efforts must still comply with municipal regulations.
Makhalima pointed to the City of Johannesburg's Metropolitan Municipality code of practice for work on road reserves, published in the Gauteng Provincial Gazette in 2004. These by-laws are clear: pothole repairs or alterations to roads must not be carried out without written permission from the council.
According to Chapter 4 of the code, no person may make or cause to be made any hole, trench, pit, or tunnel on or under any road reserve, or remove any soil, metal, or macadam from the road reserve without the prior written permission of the council, and on payment of the prescribed fee, unless that person is authorised to do so in terms of any other law .
Makhalima further explained that even with permission, specific procedures must be followed. Unapproved roadwork can cause further damage and legal issues, where the JRA might be held responsible.
She noted that those looking to carry out roadworks on potholes must apply for a wayleave – an official permit issued by JRA – before starting any work.
'We urge community members to refrain from taking matters into their own hands,' Makhalima told the Fourways Review .
'Residents are encouraged to become active citizens by reporting road defects to the City of Johannesburg or JRA through official channels.'
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
14 hours ago
- The Citizen
Community invited to Uitkoms Home for Girls AGM on August 21
Less than a minute Stephan Lehman Less than a minute Community invited to Uitkoms Home for Girls AGM on August 21 Uitkoms Home for Girls will host its AGM on August 21 at 124 St Georges Road, Observatory. The meeting starts at 10:00, and community members from near and far are warmly invited to attend. ALSO READ: Uitkoms Home for Girls to host AGM on October 15 For more information or to RSVP, contact 011 487 0357, 082 860 8626, or email [email protected]. You can also visit their website or Facebook page.
The South African
14 hours ago
- The South African
Parts of Gauteng to face 14-hour power outage on Tuesday
Due to planned maintenance, Eskom has scheduled a 14-hour power outage in parts of Soweto, Gauteng. The maintenance is scheduled for Tuesday, 29 July, from 9:00 to 23:00. Eskom said there will be an electricity supply disruption in Soweto due to maintenance that will be conducted on the distribution network. 'The power outage will affect customers in Moletsane and Tladi in Soweto on Tuesday, 29 July, from 9:00 – 23:00. The interruption of electricity is necessary to perform essential maintenance on our distribution power lines,' the power utility said. 'Eskom in Gauteng conducts planned maintenance on the distribution electricity network across the province as part of its maintenance plan. It is essential for maintenance to be conducted to service the infrastructure to ensure the safety, reliability, and efficiency of the electricity supply,' Eskom added. In the interest of safety, Eskom said customers should treat all electrical appliances as live at all times during the power outage. 'Eskom would like to thank you for your cooperation and apologises for any inconvenience that may be caused by this maintenance.' Additionally, the power utility stated that if circumstances beyond its control arise, the planned electricity maintenance in Soweto may not proceed as communicated. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Many hands make lighter work at Albertville park clean-up
On Saturday, July 26, residents of Albertville came together to clean up and reclaim their local park, focusing on clearing rubbish and alien plants. The initiative, led by community volunteers, aims to restore the park to its natural beauty and promote a cleaner environment. Pieter Grobbler, a volunteer, expressed the group's motivation for the clean-up. 'We decided to start with just the alien trees because no one can prohibit you from cutting down aliens. This is just the tip of the iceberg; it's a mission,' he said. Grobbler highlighted the safety concerns associated with the river, noting that litter is often thrown everywhere, contributing to an unsafe environment. Also read: Cleaning up Fairlands the Community Cleaners way Grobbler expressed his frustration with the littering habits of some community members. 'I don't understand why people think others should pick up their litter. They throw everything everywhere, and another issue is that there are no bins in the park,' he said. He emphasised the importance of community involvement, stating, 'Many hands make light work. If we can just get everybody involved, we can make a difference.' Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
