JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng – A city oversight tour has revealed the full scale of Johannesburg’s crumbling road infrastructure, with illegal mining creating massive sinkhole-like cavities that are forcing road closures and pushing repair costs even higher, according to the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA).
In Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg, the main road connecting the vital Main Reef Road—which links Krugersdorp to the rest of the city—has been completely shut down in one section. The cause: illegal mining that has caused the underground foundation of the roadway to collapse.
A spokesperson on the scene described the dire situation.
“This is one of those illegal mining towns in the city of Johannesburg,” the spokesperson said. “The main road that was connecting the Main Reef Road is closed off in this particular section due to illegal mining, which has led to the foundation of this road underneath it to crumble.”
Motorists have been forced onto a makeshift dirt track. The spokesperson described the condition of that alternative route as “very horrible,” adding that only drivers familiar with the area can navigate it safely. Even then, only bakkies and SUVs can pass without trouble.
“You can imagine if you’re driving a BMW, if you’re driving your sedans, your hatchbacks, and you now have to drive through this particular area—the damage that you will have to incur once you hit a pothole and get a puncture,” the spokesperson said.
Local tyre repair shops in Roodepoort told officials they have seen a steady increase in customers over the past five years. Repair costs range from 500 to 2,000 rand, depending on whether a tyre alone is damaged or a rim as well.
The JRA distinguishes between two categories of road problems: standard sinkholes found in townships and the central business district, and much larger cavities—referred to as “dimes”—caused directly by illegal mining. Fixing a standard pothole costs between 700 and 1,500 rand.
Statistics from the agency show that between July and December last year alone, more than 20,000 potholes were reported across Johannesburg. The JRA says it repaired approximately 20,000 of those during the same period.
Motorists who suffer tyre damage from potholes on official city roads can file claims with the City of Johannesburg for compensation. However, those driving on the makeshift road in Roodepoort have no such recourse, as the route is not an official city road.
“The city cannot take any responsibility for fixing that because according to JRA, if you incur any cost related to a tyre burst due to a pothole, you can make a claim… but if you’re driving here, there’s nothing you can do,” the spokesperson said.
Of the 900 million rand budget dedicated to pothole repairs, just under 200 million rand has been allocated so far. City officials and the JRA continue their oversight visit to assess the full extent of the crisis.