South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Tuesday, 16 January 2024

Pothole-riddled roads in Cosmo City, Johannesburg. Photo: SD Nqono/ Facebook.

WATCH: Navigating the toughest potholes, trenches in Cosmo City

It’s a nightmare driving in Cosmo City, north of Johannesburg where potholes and trenches are an everyday problem

South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Tuesday, 16 January 2024

Pothole-riddled roads in Cosmo City, Johannesburg. Photo: SD Nqono/ Facebook.


Fearing a puncture or worse, damaging a CV joint, is what motorists pray against daily as they navigate potholes that have turned into trenches in Cosmo City.

COSMO CITY POTHOLES A HEADACHE FOR MOTORISTS

Nothing says it’s a new year in Cosmo City as majority of the roads remain the same from the previous year (2022). It’s a constant battle for the toughest vehicle in Cosmo City which motorists are inevitably forced to navigate around the battered road of the shanty urban area.

ALSO READ: Unforgiving potholes exposed on the R66

A drive around the main routes such as South Africa Drive and Central Africa Republic Avenue is a nightmare. You don’t only have to sit on the edge of your seat and constantly observe the congested routes but you to cautiously drive in between the pavement and pieces of the remaining road surface to avoid hitting a pothole or falling into a trench.

WHAT HAS CAUSED TRENCHES ON THE ROADS

Speaking to a few of the concerned residents, some raised a number of factors that attributed to the deterioration of the roads.

  • Municipal neglect:
    Cosmo City residents believe that they have been forgotten by the City of Johannesburg. The roads crisis is top of the agenda in all community meetings but all have seemingly fallen on deaf ears.
  • Traffic:
    High volumes of traffic have contributed to the downfall of the roads.
  • Flooding:
    Heavy downpours are synonymous with damaging the road everywhere but in Cosmo City, floods don’t only leave potholes but destroy the entire road surface.
  • Car washes and informal traders:
    Cars and informal traders are almost on every corner, if not every strip. Due to poor drainage systems, water used by car washes and traders is strewn or flows into the road.

“I know the municipality has to take the blame somewhere, but I still say check every street that has car washes.”

Shashy Mmago

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