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The Citizen

Concrete maestro joins fight against potholes in Heidelberg

Johann Moolman, a retired concrete technologist and former South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) expert, is using his skills alongside the Heidelberg Hope NPC team to help restore the town's roads. Moolman explained the process of fixing potholes. 'We can only repair potholes in the streets of the town. Any national road with an R or an N and a number in its name is a provincial or national road, and the provincial municipality or the South African National Road Agency must repair the potholes on those roads,' he said. He explained the process and said they could fix a pothole only once the road was dry. The recent heavy rains in Heidelberg contributed to the size and frequency of potholes, impacting the repair operations. The process: • The pothole is first cleaned of loose material, water and dirt to help create a solid base for the repair. • The edges of the pothole are cut to create a neat, straight shape to ensure the new material can better adhere to the existing road surface. • A mix of hot or cold asphalt is put in the pothole. Hot asphalt is often preferable for a lengthier, more durable repair. • The asphalt is compacted with a roller or tamper to ensure it is firm and level with the rest of the road. • The surface is smoothed and sealed to prevent water seepage from weakening the repair. A rapid response is necessary to effectively manage and control potholes, particularly during the rainy season when large potholes can form overnight. The Lesedi Local Municipality (LLM) works closely with the Heidelberg Hope team. However, residents must report potholes on the My Lesedi App. 'The LLM and Heidelberg Hope have a good working relationship, and pothole complaints are given to Heidelberg Hope,' said Nicolene Neveling, the Heidelberg Hope spokesperson. 'Between the LLM and Heidelberg Hope, we are doing our best to get to every pothole but prioritise those on the busier streets in town,' Neveling added. She encouraged businesses and residents to get involved or help provide the repair materials. For more information, call Neveling on 072 840 0205. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!