Campaign wages war on potholes

The fight against potholes in KwaZulu-Natal gained fresh momentum this morning as Premier Thami Ntuli, MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma, and uMgungundlovu District Municipality Mayor Mzi Zuma officially launched the War on Potholes campaign in Edendale, Pietermaritzburg.

Speaking at the launch, MEC Duma outlined the province’s ambitious plan to tackle a staggering 3.12 million square metres of potholes on KZN’s roads. “We intend to procure a further 25 trucks to reinforce our efforts to eradicate potholes on our network,” he announced.

The campaign has been allocated a budget of R216 584 440.26 for the current financial year, specifically towards the Black Top Patching programme. In the 2023/24 financial year, the Department of Transport had already procured 55 trucks at a cost of R103 million to start addressing the pothole backlog.

Mr Duma revealed that more than 100 road worker aides and foremen have been appointed to be on the frontlines of the operation. In addition, service providers will be contracted to support the initiative.

“In the past, regions were tasked with pothole repair, but this programme is now being elevated to head office level. It will be executed and funded through the rehabilitation and reseal programme’s panel of pothole patching service providers,” said Mr Duma during his recent budget speech to the KZN Legislature.

A key innovation in the campaign will be the appointment of a specialist automated road rehabilitation and pothole patching service provider to ensure faster and more efficient repairs in high-priority areas of the province.

Beyond road repairs, Mr Duma spoke about the campaign's broader impact. “This exercise will contribute greatly towards the capacitation and development of small contractors and the employment of targeted labour,” he said.