IN CONVERSATION WITH MICHAEL WATERS, DA CONSTITUENCY HEAD - KEMPTON PARK

Concerns have been raised about the state of road maintenance in the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, where an outdated road monitoring system is reportedly contributing to unsafe driving conditions and deteriorating infrastructure. According to Democratic Alliance Gauteng MPL, Michael Waters, the municipality’s Pavement Management System, which is used to assess and plan road maintenance has not been fully updated since 2019. This means that current maintenance decisions are being made using outdated information about the condition of the city’s road network. In a response from the Gauteng MEC for Roads and Logistics, Kelibone Diale-Tlabela, it was confirmed that the last comprehensive road assessment in Ekurhuleni was conducted several years ago, raising concerns that maintenance is now largely reactive rather than proactive. As a result, a significant portion of the municipality’s roads is reportedly in poor structural condition, with delayed repairs contributing to vehicle damage, increased transport costs, and unsafe travel conditions for residents. It has also been indicated that financial constraints have contributed to delays in updating the system, further affecting infrastructure planning and service delivery. Stakeholders argue that without an updated and functional pavement management system, the municipality is unable to accurately prioritise road repairs or allocate resources effectively. Calls have been made for urgent intervention to update the system, conduct a full road assessment, and implement a transparent and data-driven maintenance plan to address the deteriorating infrastructure. Instagram · Twitter