A stretch of road in South Africa has large potholes and craters posing a danger to motorists

A 15-kilometre stretch of road on the outskirts of De Aar has large potholes and craters that pose a danger to motorists.

This has prompted the Emthanjeni Municipality councillor, Gerhard Engelbrecht, to probe the ongoing roadworks, which should have fixed the problems.

Engelbrecht said that he has received repeated complaints from Emthanjeni residents about the road’s dangerous condition despite continuous repairs.

It raises questions about whether the current work addresses the road’s urgent needs and is being carried out in accordance with the approved contract and scope.

“Residents have raised particular concern about the approximately 15-kilometre stretch on the outskirts of De Aar,” he said.

“This stretch of road has large potholes and craters that remain a serious danger to motorists.”

He added that, curiously, substantial sections with little visible damage are being cut out and repaired.

“In some cases, the quality of the repaired road appears worse than its original condition,” Engelbrecht said.

“One section reopened two weeks ago and has already developed two new potholes, raising concerns about the quality of repairs, workmanship, and materials used.”

Engelbrecht said he will submit questions to the MEC for Roads and Public Works to establish the contract details.

This includes the value, duration, contractor, approved scope of work, sections identified for repair, technical specifications, and quality-control requirements.

“We will seek clarity on why sections that appear to be in a relatively good condition are cut out while some of the most badly damaged areas remain unrepaired,” he said.

He said that for residents who rely on this road, the ongoing cycle of roadworks without lasting improvements is increasingly frustrating.

“Contractors keep returning, but motorists are still being forced to navigate dangerous conditions,” Engelbrecht said.