Note to Editors: Please find a soundbite in English by DA MPL Michael Waters here.
The outdated road monitoring system of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality is putting road users in danger. The dysfunctional system is leading to potholes and road maintenance not being done, forcing motorists to use unsafe roads.
In a reply to the Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng’s questions tabled to the MEC for Roads and Logistics, Kelibone Diale-Tlabela in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), it was revealed that the Pavement Management System (PMS) used by municipalities to assess the condition of the roads is not up to date. The MEC confirmed that Ekurhuleni conducted its last full assessment of its road network in 2019.
This means that officials are relying on outdated data to maintain the roads in Ekurhuleni. This means that only reactive maintenance is conducted.
The consequences are already visible: nearly one in four roads is in a terrible structural condition; maintenance is delayed or misdirected, and residents pay the price through vehicle damage and increased transport costs.
Even more concerning is that Ekurhuleni has admitted that the delay in updating the system is due to the financial crisis. This is a clear indication that basic infrastructure planning has not been prioritised, which reflects a governance failure.
Municipalities are required to manage and maintain infrastructure. Failing to keep an updated assessment of road conditions undermines service delivery and wastes public money.
Ekurhuleni cannot fix what it refuses to measure. The city must urgently appoint a contractor for the pavement management system.
They should assess all roads and implement a credible, transparent maintenance plan based on accurate data. Until then, residents will continue to drive on deteriorating roads while the city operates in the dark.
A DA-led Gauteng provincial government would immediately ensure that the pavement management system is updated through holding the city and the provincial department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to account.