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Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, where an outdated road monitoring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that current maintenance decisions are being made using outdated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.