Latest news with #JohannesburgRoadsAgency
The South African
a day ago
- Automotive
- The South African
Repairs to the worst road in Randburg slammed as a 'patch job'
The long-awaited repairs to CR Swart Drive in Boskruin, Randburg have left residents and motorists less than impressed. Instead of a much-needed road resurfacing, the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) again opted for a series of pothole fillers. Locals are calling it a band-aid solution to what they believe is a chronic and worsening problem, writes the Randburg Sun . In April, the community paper published a video on its socials showing what a leisurely drive down CS Swart Drive looks like. Sub-titled the 'worst pothole-ridden road in Randburg,' the footage offered a sobering glimpse at this neglected stretch of tarmac. For years, CR Swart Drive has become a nightmare for daily commuters. Deep potholes, flooding, and a crumbling surface has forced drivers to veer dangerously into a single lane, creating major traffic congestion during peak hours. The road's deterioration highlights a broader, ongoing problem in Johannesburg – the steady decline of the city's aging and poorly-maintained infrastructure. Though CR Swart Drive has now been reopened, residents say little has improved. 'JRA needs to find a permanent solution when it comes to fixing the potholes on CR Swart Drive,' said Ward 101 councillor Ralf Bittkau. '[The holes] keep on resurfacing and that takes them back to square one.' The JRA meanwhile has pointed out that pothole repair is prioritised according to the degree and extent of the damage to the street surface. They attributed CR Swart Drive's deterioration to ongoing heavy rains. This has been compounded by a leaking water main that continues to weaken the road. 'We also give priority to major roads and those near public spaces like schools,' added JRA's Head of Department for Regional Operations, Khaya Gqibitole. 'Our team has completed the repairs on CR Swart Drive, and our goal is to continually improve turnaround times and the durability of repairs.' 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.
IOL News
28-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Joburg allocates R6. 4 billion for infrastructure repairs and urban renewal
The Johannesburg Roads Agency plans to complete rehabilitating the Lilian Ngoyi Street in Johannesburg by the end of August 2025. Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers The City of Johannesburg has set aside R6.4 billion to repair and maintain its aging infrastructure and plans to complete rehabilitating Lilian Ngoyi Street (formerly Bree Street) by the end of August. Margaret Arnolds, the municipality's Finance MMC, announced the plans on Wednesday when she tabled the R89.4 billion budget for the 2025/26 financial year. 'The city has established an expanded maintenance budget for water and electricity infrastructure, recognising that prevention is more cost-effective than repair. 'The repairs and maintenance budget amounts to R6.4bn, 7% of the property plant and equipment budget, and this will increase over the medium term to 7.2%,' Arnolds said. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ She stated that 47% of the budget will go towards asset renewal, which augments the repairs and maintenance budget by bringing a new lease of life to aging infrastructure, and that by the third year, this will increase to 58% of the budget. Additionally, Arnolds explained that as part of the municipality's commitment to rebuilding a safe, resilient, and inclusive inner city, the first phase of the Lilian Ngoyi Street rehabilitation will be completed by August 30, 2025. The project is led by the Johannesburg Roads Agency and represents more than just the repair of critical infrastructure, according to the African Independent Congress councillor. 'It is a bold investment in urban renewal, economic revitalisation and public safety. We are restoring a vital artery,' Arnolds said. In July 2023, the busy street was damaged after a gas explosion that left one person dead and over 40 injured. Arnolds said the city's top priority was restoring basic services. 'We heard our residents, those waiting for refuse to be collected, for water leaks to be fixed, and for power outages to end. That is why the city has implemented a service failure tracking system through the war room. This centralised hub monitors water leaks, electricity disruptions, refuse non-collection, and road damage in real time,' added Arnolds. She said the war room allows for rapid deployment of resources to high-complaint areas and integrates data from all municipal entities for decisive action. Arnolds added that the city has operationalised a cross-cutting war room that functions as an executive oversight and early-warning mechanism over the past year.
The Citizen
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
One million kilograms of trash cleared from Johannesburg CBD in under four months
Johannesburg's municipal entities have been on service delivery drives throughout the CBD in recent months. The Johannesburg municipality has made a significant dent in the mounds of trash lining the inner city's streets. Weekly service delivery drives were launched in early 2024 by Mayor Dada Morero, and this weekend marked some significant milestones. However, those living in the CBD say the drives have made little difference to life in the increasingly dilapidated concrete maze. 'Reimagining' Johannesburg The inner-city clean-up project operates under the banner, 'Reimagining Joburg through the eyes of residents' by focusing on vandalism, hijacked buildings and by-law infringements. As well as mass clean-up operations, multi-departmental teams attend to streetlights, stormwater drains and potholes, while trying to encourage residents to contribute to a clean environment. Trash and litter covering Johannesburg's pavements has been a notable eyesore, but the city boasts that a remarkable amount of rubbish — one million kilograms — has left the CBD since the start of the year. 'Pikitup removed 1 000 tonnes of waste in hotspots like [Marshalltown] while conducting street sweeping and emptying skip bins,' the city stated. The figure is a fraction of the waste the municipality generates, with city officials confirming on Tuesday that the greater Johannesburg region generates roughly 1.6 billion kilograms of waste annually. Additionally, Johannesburg Roads Agency cleared over 150 stormwater drains and repaired over 100 potholes, and City Power repaired over 500 streetlights and disconnected over 200 illegal connections in roughly four months. City Parks cleared overgrown vegetation, Johannesburg Water addressed leaks and bursts, while social development profiled and relocated displaced people to city shelters. Shop owners partially to blame Resident and ActionSA PR councillor in the CBD, Zark Lebatlang said he was happy attention was being paid to the CBD, but was not convinced it would revive its fortunes. 'It looks good on the pictures, but in terms of a sustainable programme to deal with the issue of cleaning up the CBD, there is no clear impact,' Lebatlang told The Citizen. The councillor explained that spaza shops and informal traders were among the chief polluters of the city, saying the shops were not regulated, and that owners disregarded by-laws. He said spaza shops needed to be stopped from dumping their rubbish in alleys and on corners, and championed Hernan Mashaba's discarded A Re Sebetseng programme. 'But you don't do it on a temporary basis, you need to be aggressive, and I think empowering residents on taking ownership of cleaning their areas is the first thing you need to do,' said Lebatlang. '[With shop owners], you fine them, you close down their shops, you ensure they are following environmental regulations and not contributing to the litter in the CBD,' he suggested. 'Scratch the surface' In the last four months, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department has held 36 joint law enforcement operations, during which 331 properties have been inspected. The properties included licensed premises, mini supermarkets, corner shops, vehicle repair shops, and several high-rise buildings that had been converted into shopping centres. At these premises, 517 infringements were found, leading to the closure of non-compliant buildings and the seizure of illegal goods. 'Many buildings were found operating without approved plans or with illegal utility connections,' stated the municipality this weekend. Crime is a constant concern for Lebatlang and all Johannesburg residents, and he suggested a rethinking of crime-fighting strategies was necessary if the city was to thrive. 'The city needs an overhaul in terms of interventions from law enforcement, the security pillar and when it comes to service delivery,' he said. 'If you are not going to do all of that, you're still just going to scratch the surface,' he concluded. NOW READ: 'Joburg is in free fall' — Next month could be make or break for Mayor Dada Morero
IOL News
13-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Bree Street repair to be completed in August: Johannesburg Roads Agency
Johannesburg Roads Agency says it is confident that the Lilian Ngoyi in Johannesburg was hit by a gas explosion two years ago will be completed by August 2025. The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) says it is confident that the first phase of the rehabilitation work on Lilian Ngoyi Street, formerly known as Bree Street, is 'progressing according to schedule and is still on track' for completion by the end of August 2025. The road has been closed since July 2023, after a devastating gas explosion which claimed the lives of over 15 people and left others injured as it ripped up the key route into the CBD. The explosion resulted in the collapse of approximately 450 metres of Lilian Ngoyi Street, between Harrison and Kruis Streets. The incident also caused substantial damage to vital underground infrastructure, including stormwater and electrical networks. After a mutual separation agreement and settlement with the first contractor, Step-Up Engineering, the new contractor, Korone Engineering, has been reassigned. IOL News previously reported that City of Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero confirmed that the total cost of the project will be R194 million. JRA spokesperson Bertha Peters-Scheepers said, despite the recent adverse weather conditions that threatened to delay progress, an acceleration plan was swiftly implemented to mitigate potential setbacks. 'As part of the recovery strategy, the contractor mobilised additional resources and extended working hours, including weekend shifts,' she said. Peters-Scheepers said proactive measures have ensured that construction remains on schedule, with 43% of the project scope already completed and 60% of the service tunnel completed. 'Notable progress has been achieved on the new and upgraded concrete tunnel, a key element of the overall infrastructure enhancement,' she said. Meanwhile, JRA acting CEO Lufuno Mashau said, "Beyond the visible construction, this crucial project involves the complex reinstallation and relocation of essential stormwater, water, and sewer pipes.' Mashau said they are installing new lighting, smoke detection, and ventilation systems in the service tunnels. 'As part of the health and safety assurance and compliance on the project, the lateral support on deep excavations has been installed.' 'Upon completion of this initial phase, the 450-metre section of Lilian Ngoyi Street will feature a newly constructed road surface, expanded sidewalks, designated vendor spaces, upgraded bus stops, and associated street furniture, significantly enhancing the urban environment and pedestrian experience.' Mashau added that the second phase of the project, scheduled to commence in September 2025, will focus on the rejuvenation of the remainder of 1.8 kilometres of the street, stretching between Ntemi Piliso and End Streets. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng conducted an oversight on the street on Monday. The delegation included Gauteng shadow MEC for Human Settlements, Mervyn Cirota, Johannesburg caucus leader, Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku, Johannesburg central head, Andrew De Blocq MPL, and councillors in the City of Johannesburg. The party said that it discovered that the rehabilitation project of Lillian Ngoyi Street is underway. However, Cirota said the DA completing the work within three months is unrealistic 'We estimate that it may take another year.' He said the DA will be sending questions to the City of Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero and Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi to ascertain who is responsible for the project, the actual timelines, the budget spent, and the work done thus far. 'It serves no one for the Gauteng residents to have their hopes raised only for the project to stall. 'This is one of the reasons why the DA has filed a motion of no confidence against the City of Johannesburg Mayor, Dada Morero, who has proven ineffective in holding people accountable,' Cirota said. 'It is also the reason why the DA finds Premier Lesufi unfit for purpose because this is happening under his watch.' IOL News
The Citizen
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Rain makes life hard at JRA's pothole pains persist
Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) continues its daily battle with the city's pothole problem, citing persistent rain and uncontrolled water flows as key barriers to swift repairs. Speaking on the matter, head of department for regional operations Khaya Gqibitole said that pothole inspections and repairs are part of a continuous process, but certain conditions slow down the response rate. Read more: JRA and City Power addressed service delivery woes 'JRA conducts daily inspections across the entire road network it manages. Identified defects, including potholes, are then added to weekly operational schedules at maintenance depots. So, potholes are attended to as and when they appear,' Gqibitole explained. However, the challenge is compounded by external factors, especially weather conditions and infrastructure decay. 'Persistent rainfalls and uncontrolled water – either grey or green – flowing across road surfaces makes it difficult to resolve potholes as quickly as JRA would like. This is because asphalt-related activities can only be done under dry conditions,' he said. Also read: JRAs acting Region B depot managers vision for a better region According to Gqibitole, aging infrastructure across Johannesburg contributes to the recurring pothole problem. 'All JRA roads that require rehabilitation and resurfacing are prone to developing potholes. It's an issue of structural fatigue over time.' While potholes affect roads across the metro, Gqibitole did not single out specific routes, saying the problem is widespread and affects any road with deteriorating surfaces. He also urged drivers to exercise caution, especially during rainy conditions, when potholes are more difficult to see and avoid. 'Reduce speed to minimise damage to your vehicle should you drive into a pothole. Avoid puddles as they may be rainwater-filled potholes. Keep a safe following distance to react to potholes in front of you. Refrain from swerving abruptly as this can lead to losing control of your vehicle. Avoid hard braking as this can destabilise your vehicle,' Gqibitole advised. JRA continues to encourage residents to report potholes using its various available channels, noting that community feedback plays an essential role in speeding up maintenance operations. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! Related article: JRA shares tips of driving in the rain At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
