Potholes are a big challenge in Kanana leading car damages and accidents

Lerato Cilishane

Lack of service delivery remains a pressing challenge for many communities across the country, sparking daily complaints from residents. Key issues include access to water, electricity, refuse removal, and the maintenance of roads, which are often neglected by municipalities. In Kanana, potholes have become a significant hazard, some growing as large as swimming pools. What began as minor cracks in the pavement have now transformed into dangerous potholes, leading to vehicle damage and accidents.

The roads are fraught with deep potholes, making driving both challenging and frustrating. As cars sustain ongoing damage, public transport, including taxis, is forced to take longer routes to avoid these obstacles, resulting in traffic jams and delays for commuters. Drivers, vehicle owners, and Kanana residents who face these potholes and uneven road surfaces are at risk of substantial vehicle damage and financial strain. Additionally, pedestrians navigating these hazardous conditions face the potential for injury. Despite the efforts of community members to manage the situation some have even resorted to filling smaller potholes with sand there has been little response from ward councillors or the local municipality.

Local mechanic Anthon Jack Lamula shared his observations about the increasing number of repairs linked to road damage. “Potholes are damaging vehicles every day. Every day we’re patching or replacing tires; we see bent rims and suspension issues due to poor road conditions in the area,” he stated during an interview. The impact of these road conditions reaches everyone from workers arriving late to schoolchildren struggling to make their way to school, to emergency vehicles encountering delays. Given these safety concerns, addressing the state of the roads is a critical priority. Mr. Theo Matlawe, a paralegal at the Orkney Advice Centre, suggested that the pothole issue is somewhat deliberate, pointing out that the municipality has the financial capacity to repair the roads. He noted that roads in Orkney are beginning to be fixed, likely due to the approaching local government elections, indicating that the municipality intends to extend repairs to major roads in Kanana. “This feels like a stunt campaign to win over voters,” he remarked, reflecting a sense of skepticism about the timing of these efforts.