South Africa's pothole crisis: The impact of poor workmanship on road infrastructure

IOL News

16-05-2025

The R102 Umbilo off-ramp that branches off from the M7 is plagued with potholes that are constantly being repaired calling into question the quality of the repairs.
Image: Karen Singh/Screenshot from video
South Africa's road infrastructure, spanning approximately 750,000 km and ranking as the tenth longest road network globally, currently battles a significant pothole crisis exacerbated by inadequate workmanship.
This recurring issue not only undermines road safety but also imposes a heavy financial burden on taxpayers, motorists, and different levels of government.
The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) is currently managing about 21 403 km of paved roads, provinces manage approximately 204 830 km of paved and unpaved roads, while municipalities manage roughly 292 207km of paved and unpaved roads. Pothole repairs are estimated to cost between R700 and R1,500 per square metre based on previous data from the Department of Transport.
In 2022, the government launched Operation Vala Zonke to address one of South Africa's most persistent infrastructure challenges.
This nationwide campaign, aimed at eliminating potholes from the country's roads, was spearheaded by the Department of Transport and implemented by Sanral. The project calls for the collaboration of national, provincial, and local governments, as well as the private sector and the public.
The programme is facilitated through a purpose-made Vala Zonke mobile app that can be downloaded free of charge by members of the public. Using the app, potholes can be reported and geotagged anywhere in the country. Teams can then be dispatched to effect repairs.
An on-ramp to the M7 near Southway Mall is plagued with potholes that are constantly being repaired calling into question the quality of the repairs.
Image: Karen Singh/Screenshot from video
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
A Pinetown resident, who requested not to be named, said there is a certain stretch of roadway on the M19, between Pinetown and New Germany, where for the past three years motorists have fallen victim to recurring potholes.
She said while locals have become accustomed to these potholes and avoid the left lane, others are affected.
'The area has been repaired so many times; most times, they just put gravel (crushed stone with sand) and call it a day. Then, when it rains, it's back to square one.'
She called for that portion of the road to be redone entirely.
The R102 Umbilo off-ramp that branches off from the M7 has been repaired several times over recent years. Each time a fraction of the potholes are left open, further increasing the surface of the roadway that needs to be repaired.
Residents reported that every time they repair this off-ramp, they are left disappointed with the quality of work done and called for better monitoring of repairs.
The R102 Umbilo off-ramp that branches off from the M7 is plagued with potholes that are constantly being repaired calling into question the quality of the repairs.
Image: Karen Singh/Screenshot from video
Sanral has highlighted poor workmanship as one of the ongoing challenges identified through the Vala Zonke initiative, often resulting from inadequate preparation of potholes before filling.
Sanral said such shortcuts can lead to premature failure of repairs, ultimately undermining road safety and wasting valuable resources.
'The lack of monitoring and testing by the road authorities allows contractors to produce substandard work. This requires competent people to be part of the team monitoring the performance of the contractors,' said Sanral spokesperson Lwando Mahlasela.
He said the app includes built-in data monitoring features from the War Room, which allow road authorities to assess the quality of repair efforts and identify recurring issues, many of which can be linked to workmanship.
Mahlasela said road authorities are equipped to respond effectively, overseen by the Vala Zonke War Room. This initiative enhances coordination among municipalities and provinces for safer roads.
The R102 Umbilo off-ramp that branches off from the M7 is plagued with potholes that are constantly being repaired calling into question the quality of the repairs.
Image: Karen Singh/Screenshot from video
However, he said despite the successful launch of the Vala Zonke app, it remains underutilised, limiting the national War Room's ability to maintain full oversight of reported potholes.
'To date, 120,123 potholes have been officially logged through the app, a number that likely represents only a fraction of the actual potholes on South Africa's roads due to limited app engagement. A large number of potholes remain unreported in the poorer residential areas due to lack of access to data to report,' he said.
He said this gap in reporting highlights the importance of greater participation from the public and road authorities, both in using the app and in integrating other reporting systems into the Vala Zonke platform.
'Encouragingly, provincial authorities have repaired over four million square metres of paved road surfaces, showing clear commitment to addressing the crisis. However, accurate data remains critical for prioritising repairs, allocating resources efficiently, and holding stakeholders accountable,' said Mahlasela.
Sanral and the Department of Transport encourage all citizens and municipalities to utilise the Vala Zonke app for reporting, tracking, and facilitating the repair of every pothole.
According to Sanral, while the Vala Zonke War Room and app have laid a strong foundation for coordinated pothole management, several challenges are still hindering the programme's full potential.
'One major issue is the lack of training among some road authorities in using the secure systems provided to report back to the War Room,' said Mahlasela.
In many cases, he said repairs are being completed on the ground, but the status updates are not submitted through the correct channels, leading to data gaps and an incomplete national picture.
Additional obstacles include, but are not limited to, limited digital literacy among officials, fear of transitioning to new systems, insufficient accountability at certain levels, constraints in funding as road authorities require additional funding for pothole repairs, capacity, capability, and resources such as lack of data and equipment.
Mahlasela stated that these challenges slow down reporting, tracking, and performance evaluation, ultimately affecting the speed and quality of pothole repairs.
'Sanral and the National Department of Transport continue to roll out training and support programmes, aiming to empower road authorities with the skills, tools, and confidence needed to fully integrate into the Vala Zonke programme.'
Road authorities using their own pothole reporting apps or systems are encouraged to integrate with the Vala Zonke platform, he added.
Mahlasela said this integration enables the Vala Zonke War Room to maintain a holistic, national view of all reported potholes, ensuring a unified, no repetition of effort and efficient response across all levels of government.
'In addition to improved reporting systems, Sanral is advocating the use of nanotechnology to strengthen road surfaces and extend their lifespan at reduced road repair costs, offering a smarter, more sustainable approach to road maintenance,' he said.
To ensure that this innovation is implemented effectively, Mahlasela said Sanral has developed a standard named TRH24 and is providing training to road authorities across the country.
'This training will help standardise usage, promote proper application, and ensure long-term compliance with national road maintenance standards. Through technology, collaboration, and accountability, the Vala Zonke programme is helping to restore South Africa's roads one pothole at a time.'
'Sanral has assisted the Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) in developing training modules in the repair of potholes,' he said.
Mahlasela further noted that since the launch of the Vala Zonke War Room, road authorities across the country have been receiving training on newly developed digital applications designed to streamline pothole reporting and road maintenance.
He said this marks a major step toward creating a more coordinated and responsive system for managing road infrastructure at a national level.
'We are seeing a growing number of authorities begin to embrace the programme and use the secure apps provided to report back on issues logged by the public,' he said.
Last month, KZN Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma launched the War on Potholes Campaign with a R216 million budget.
Duma said the Department is focusing on the issue of efficiency and rapid repair of potholes.
'We have launched a province-wide campaign focusing on pothole patching with a budget of R216,584,440.26. As announced, we are tackling the backlog of 3.12 million m² of potholes,' he said.
KZN Transport MEC Siboniso Duma and KZN Premier Thami Ntuli at the launch of the more than R216 million War on Potholes campaign.
Image: Supplied
The MEC said to ensure speed and efficiency, the Department has procured 55 trucks at a cost of R103 million, with 25 more trucks in the pipeline to reinforce its efforts to eradicate potholes on our network.
'We have further appointed more than 100 road worker aids and foremen to be on the frontlines and ensure strict supervision of our work,' said Duma.
Duma said there are various types of potholes, including those created by heavy truck traffic, stemming from the two major ports in Durban and Richards Bay, which contribute to road damage and the formation of potholes.
He said potholes are also caused by extreme weather conditions, which weaken pavement materials and poor drainage.
In addition to KZN being the logistics hub with trucks carrying coal and chemicals, spillages to the road are also the causes of potholes.
'It is true that most parts of the province—suburbs, cities, and townships—were built more than 50 years ago with poor drainage systems that get overwhelmed as a result of prolonged rainfall. Unfortunately, poor drainage can allow water to seep into the roadbed and weaken the pavement, making it more susceptible to pothole formation,' he said.
The launch of the more than R216 million War on Potholes campaign by the KZN Department of Transport.
Image: Supplied
Duma noted that the type of material used by his team is a key consideration. He explained that cold-mix asphalt or cold bitumen emulsion is used for repairing small potholes, whereas hot-mix asphalt is used for larger potholes located on roads with high traffic volume.
'We are also working to improve relationships with material suppliers to ensure efficiency and quality,' he said.
Apart from emphasising supervision of the workforce, Duma said the Department is investing in early pothole detection technology.
'We will also be training our newly appointed KZN Transport Forums (more than 900) so that they also take part in monitoring this work,' he said.
He said the Department will also be prioritising working with the ratepayers' associations and other community structures such as NGOs, leaders of society, and leaders of faith moving forward.
The MEC said the Department remains concerned that the prolonged rainfall and floods caused by cut-off low-pressure systems are destroying KZN's road networks across all corners of the province.
'Severe weather patterns caused by climate change, such as extreme heat and sudden cold weather accompanied by heavy rainfall, is wreaking havoc and leaving a trail of destruction on our roads,' he said.
A waterlogged road in Durban following heavy rain.
Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo/Independent Newspapers
EThekwini Municipality spokesperson Gugu Sisilana said the City has dedicated internal teams and appointed external contractors responsible for repairing potholes.
Sisilana also expressed concern about the ongoing bad weather, acknowledging that it has hindered pothole repair efforts. She said the repairs mainly rely on hot asphalt, which is unsuitable for application in wet conditions. Cold mix is used only in emergencies or for temporary "make-safe" repairs.
'Despite weather challenges, City teams are currently on-site attending to potholes whenever conditions allow. A budget has been allocated specifically for road maintenance, including pothole repairs,' said Sisilana.
Automobile Association (AA) spokesperson Eleanor Mavimbela said poor workmanship during initial road construction or repairs is a major contributor to the formation of potholes.
'Municipalities must invest in high-quality road construction using durable materials and qualified contractors,' she said.
Mavimbela said regular inspections and timely maintenance are critical. Transparent tender processes and public reporting tools, such as road condition apps, can enhance accountability and improve service delivery.
She said implementing effective stormwater drainage systems can help prevent water damage.
'Roads are often not built to standard specifications, or cheaper materials are used that cannot withstand weather conditions or heavy traffic.'
Additionally, Mavimbela said a lack of proper drainage systems leads to water accumulation, which weakens the road surfaces.
'Delayed maintenance and the use of overloaded vehicles also accelerate road deterioration.'
Mavimbela reiterated the warning that potholes can cause significant damage to vehicles, including tyre bursts, damaged rims, wheel alignment issues, and suspension problems.
'Motorists often face repair costs that can amount to thousands of rands—expenses that are rarely reimbursed. Potholes also increase the risk of accidents, as drivers may swerve to avoid them, putting themselves and others at risk,' she said.
[e-mail]
An elderly couple and their grandchild were injured in a vehicle accident caused by a pothole on the R102 near Glen Anil.
Image: KZN VIP Protection Services