Potholes are an unfortunate and dangerous reality for many Buffalo City municipality (BCM) residents.
With the recent rains exposing even more potholes and poor road conditions, the impact on road users has become increasingly severe.
In areas like Tewksbury Road, residents have resorted to alternative routes, fearing for their safety and the potential damage to their vehicles.
The problem extends beyond individual streets, with major roads like Wembley Drive in Cambridge and St Peters Road in Southernwood also deteriorating.
Even businesses are feeling the effects; a worker at The Hub Complex in Beacon Bay shared that customers frequently complain about potholes at the complex’s entrances. The issue has not been addressed despite repeated reports to landlords.
Residents are also bearing the financial brunt of this neglect. One Beacon Bay patron, who wishes to remain anonymous due to their position as a municipal worker, noted that the potholes create unexpected costs.
“If you lose a tyre, it’s a lot of money you didn’t budget for, and it’s even worse on rainy days when you can’t see the potholes,” they said.
A sub-contractor from Imonti Construction, which is contracted for road maintenance, emphasised that years of neglect have caused severe wear and tear.
Councillor Frederick Pohl, of ward 28, said the municipality’s lack of a proper road maintenance programme had worsened the situation.
“Some of our streets need rebuilding, and without funding, these issues will continue,” he said.
Morningside ward councillor Ntsika Qali also shared that the municipality allocates just R1m per ward for road repairs, which is insufficient to address the widespread pothole problem.
“R1m only caters for 80m of road resurfacing, which is not enough for one street in Morningside,” he said.
