Joburg potholes: A World Cup visitor's guide

JOHANNESBURG - The South African city of Johannesburg will be at the centre of the football world cup in 2010. Two of the city's stadiums will host world cup games, and the first and final matches will be played there. FIFA's official website describes Joburg as a city "situated right in the very heart of South Africa, and because of its central position it draws many people together, creating a thrilling city in which many different cultures mix, producing a delightfully varied experience for any tourist."

One of the things that makes Joburg the thrilling place it undoubtedly is, is the varied state of its roads. The presence of a large and diverse population of holes in the city's streets is a source of some debate among Joburgers. On the side there are those who regard them as a menace and their presence as a blight. On the other, there are those who believe that the filling in and repair of such holes is a trivial matter which should not be allowed to get in the way of more important objectives (like not cleaning the streets).

The municipality clearly leans towards the latter viewpoint. It appears to be of the opinion that given enough time Joburgers will stop viewing particular potholes as unwelcome intruders and instead start viewing them, with fondness, as old friends.

In any event, whether residents love or loathe their presence, they have learnt to live with them. Potholes tend to go unrepaired for so long that, after a certain period, most local motorists are aware of where they are, and know exactly when to swerve to avoid them.  

Visitors to Africa's richest city are, however, unlikely to possess such local knowledge. For this reason we are publishing the following brief introductory guide.

1. The classic pothole - River Street, Houghton Estate

There are many different kinds of holes in Johannesburg's roads. But below is a picture of a classic pothole. This one is at a particularly sneaky age. It is still sufficiently small to be hard to spot, but is just large and deep enough to leap out at any unsuspecting automobile that passes its way - before running off with one of its tires.

2. The disappearing road (A) - River Street, Houghton Estate

One way of solving Johannesburg pothole problem would be to do away with its roads altogether. This seems to be happening to River Street on the Killarney Houghton border (not too far from the residences of former presidents Thabo Mbeki and Nelson Mandela). It has taken the first important steps towards disappearing completely.

The disappearing street (B) - River Street, Houghton Estate

The disappearing street (C) - River Street, Houghton Estate

3. The man made hole in the road - Wells Ave, Saxonwold

A perennial problem in Johannesburg is the digging of trenches and holes in the road. Unlike the classic pothole (see above) it is not possible to drive around the trench (see below). Such holes usually go unrepaired by the City Council for several weeks, while becoming progressively deeper and more dangerous.  Sometimes they are not exceedingly well marked...

4. The man made trench in the road - Kernick Ave, Melrose North

And sometimes they are...

5. The ‘repaired' trench - Bompas Road, Dunkeld

There is usually only one thing more dangerous than a trench in the road, and that is one the municipality has tried to fix. The city council is of the view, it seems, that the best way of fixing a hole - the first time around - is to fill it with sand and cover it with a thin layer of tarmac.  The sand soon washes away, leaving a deep but hard to spot hole.

6. The Groot Gat of Killarney - Riviera Road, Killarney

Like South Africa's famous wildlife Johannesburg potholes can be at once wonderous and frightening. Why travel all the way to the Northern Cape to see Kimberley's Big Hole when the equally impressive Groot Gat of Killarney can be viewed within the borders of Johannesburg itself?

Is there a pothole of distinction in your  area? Email a photograph and its location to letters@politicsweb.co.za

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responses to this article

EASY SOLUTION FOR DUMMIES Why only mock ? Unite in purpose ! Boycotts brought Nats defeat !. ALL agree to put RATES in a trust fund and sit back. No more black Label, overseas trips, new cars, MANSIONS - cavalcades ? A deal breaker ! by old, female on January 25 2010, 06:43 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

ever seen cairo road in lusaka? that's the future..... by charlie on January 25 2010, 07:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

There are worse potholes How 'bout the pothole between Mayor Amos Masondo's ears? Or the gaping hole in Joburg's finances? by Dig up the dirt on January 25 2010, 07:14 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

the municipality of Jozi has summonsed me for amounts owing on 2 properties I sold with clearance 2 and 3 years ago. The details I requested have the wrong erf number, wrong street address, a first defendant (not me) and no second defendant. The biggest amount is a carried . .more forward figure that is not explained. The signs of government bullying to take money in any way is third reich and scarey. . .less by Shirley Armstrong on January 25 2010, 07:45 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Ja swaar.... As we well know Africans have never been at the top of the world road engineering awards...lolol. Their capability sits back somewhere around the Egyptians, nay maybe the Romans. Funny that that one trait (amongst others..) runs all the way from Sudan to . .more Cape Town. Amazing actually., identical all over Africa. . .less by Dave on January 25 2010, 07:55 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Larney potholes Those are 'owton estate and kee-larney potholes. Should see what we get out in the sticks. by Gus Gosling on January 25 2010, 07:56 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Not only JHB Potholes in Durban are just as bad. Take a drive along the North Coast Roads, even leading up to the new airport. They are obviously of no concern to the Municipality as some of these potholes have been around for months now. by A on January 25 2010, 08:01 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Jozi municipality has sent me 2 summonses for expenses on properties sold 2 and 3 years ago (with clearance) . Requested details showed large amount brought forward with no explanation, incorrect erf no and address. A second respondent is unknown to me and there was no second respondent. . .more This bullying to get moneys not owing is third reich stuff. . .less by Shirley Armstrong on January 25 2010, 08:06 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

first respondent is unknown to me by Shirley Armstrong on January 25 2010, 08:07 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Potholes Delightful! Lets hope it prods someone into action!! Its time someone opened up a blog spot called the :unofficial guide for 2010 visitors - something like the "rough guide" series of travel books just for the 2010 SWC by Peterw on January 25 2010, 08:07 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Soweto Eish in Soweto they fix the pot holes up quickly! have any of you whiteys been to Soweto? here we have truck road sweepers and everything is clean. No vendors and no rubbish on the pavements (KFC chicken boxes and bones). by Sipho on January 25 2010, 08:27 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Jozi municipality has sent me 2 summonses for expenses on properties sold 2 and 3 years ago with clearance. Request for further details revealed incorrect erf no, wrong address, large amount brought forward with no details, a first defendent unkknown to me and no second defendent. In other . .more words - a mess. The government is bullying in a disturbingly 3rd reich way. . .less by Shirley Armstrong on January 25 2010, 08:36 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

At R85 mill per golden handshake! Well the money had to go somewhere!!! by unknown on January 25 2010, 08:44 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Updated This is the short guide to the state of Jhb roads. How about starting a website dedicated to this subject. Or what about TomTom updates or SMS alerts to warn unsuspecting motorists. by R Mugaybee on January 25 2010, 09:00 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

hate The reason that there is this great racism turnaround in this country is because the only people that complain about anything and everything in this country are whites. Black people are very easy going people they do not mind about potholes in the road . .more electricity black outs poor service ineffiecient government departments. So it is simple to see why there is ill feelings amongst tghe readers on this sight . .less by bab on January 25 2010, 09:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

THIS City works Obviously the handful of whiners will disagree, but in Cape Town we don't have this problem. Our roads are in pretty good shape, and improving rapidly as we wind up for the world cup. Our traffic lights also work too. by CityBoy on January 25 2010, 09:09 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

There is no Zulu word for maintenance The closest Zulu term to what we second-class citizens understand as maintenance, is closer in meaning to "raising" (e.g. raising a crop.) Maintenance as we understand it, doesn't exist in that culture. There is undoubtably a genetic or . .more naturally selected cause for Africa's lack of vision for the future. If you live in a climate where there is no need to plan for the future, where food is available all year round, having the insight to know that you have to plan offers no evolutionary advantage. If you of are an inferior ice race, however, you will die if you don't have the vision to store food for the future, and to create a structure that will shelter you in the winter. Therefore, there is a total lack of insight in Africa, even on the part of "educated" (sic) cadres like Jacob Maroga, into the necessity of planning and preventative maintenance. Blame natural selection and evolution, and accept that there's nothing you can do about it. . .less by Afrikaner on January 25 2010, 09:12 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Thanks for clarifying the issue Shirley. At first I totally didn't get it ... by confused on January 25 2010, 09:13 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Potholes Your writer's colonialist imperialist capitalist racist mindset comes through (saving Dave Harris the trouble) Jo'burg is a mining town and mining towns have unfilled holes - ask Kimberley. Now you whingeing whiteys know why cabinet ministers . .more need 4x4s. Besides, it's all the fault of apartheid. . .less by Loudly South African on January 25 2010, 09:17 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

An opportunity (ANC style) Couldn't government issue a brochure called "Potholes of South Africa - a Guide", preferably produced by a media and print company in which Chancellor House has a sizable stake ? I mean, that would be cheaper than actually FIXING the potholes, and we . .more would all be doing our bit to fund the ANC's re-election campaign. Makes sense, huh? . .less by Jabulani on January 25 2010, 09:18 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Pothole Guide Government has already issued a guide to potholes and has published it on the number plates of the cars registered in the various provinces, i.e. GP = Groot Potholes; MP = Moe rse Potholes and FS = Fo kken Slote. by Amos on January 25 2010, 10:12 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Soccer World Cup Publicity. Think these should be sent to potential fans.. So that they get to know all about SA first hand. The pot and the holes they could get into when they visit the country! To SA the car hire companies - rather advise fans to rent/hire 4X4's. To the SA motor companies - get . .more sufficient 4X4 stock for the car hire companies. And to the JHB council spin doctors. Stop lying to the world about Johannesburg being a world class city. And to the soccer world cup spin doctors. Stop lying to the world about South Africa being a developed country. The word the JHB and soccer spin doctors are looking for to be honest with the world and themselves to describe the reality of SA is "decay". . .less by Vukani on January 25 2010, 10:16 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Amos LOL - You crack me up Amos - excuse the pun! by Observer on January 25 2010, 10:56 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Johannesburg--- a world class city Yes it is, it really is. So is Mogadishu. The fact that this is a class most thinking citizens would not want to win is a mere triviality for jackanapes like the Malema mozzie and the mayoral Masondo who believes the function of a mayor is . .more to get a fat belly as quickly as possible, pay huge bonues for piteous performance and then complain that nothing is ever his fault. The thundering stupidity coupled with unbeleiveable laziness and pitiable intelligence exhibited by these clowns is really tragic. Let's hope a blue light convoy disappears down one of the smaller potholes and takes its occupants with it. . .less by Plutarch on January 25 2010, 11:04 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

You guys do not have world class potholes. Try harder! Why not make your submissions to: http://www.mypotholes.com/ Turn a problem into an opportunity http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6965555/Potholes-turned-into-artwork.html by Traveller on January 25 2010, 11:17 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Ours are bigger than yours (Potholes that is) We in Durban resent the implication made in the article that Joburg's holes are bigger than Durban's. Mike Suttcliffe and crew go to great pains to ensure that our potholes conform to a certain standard, and are the most efficient in . .more the destruction of vehicle suspensions and tyres. Maybe a Capetonian should be the judge since they have really small ones (pot holes that is) . .less by durbs boy on January 25 2010, 11:19 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

I mean you did not even make the grade! http://www.gadling.com/2009/04/29/the-worst-potholes-in-the-world-take-the-gadling-tour/ by Traveller on January 25 2010, 11:20 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Even the UK has you beat. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8459005.stm by Traveller on January 25 2010, 11:21 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Who Cares about the pot holes Most of the people who live in the areas listed above drive big fancy 4x4's anyway, so they should appreciate the potholes, it gives them a chance to test out their 4x4's off road ability. :-) by Brent on January 25 2010, 12:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Had enough The roads in SA are so frigging bad now, I feel like I am living in a 5th world country, much less 3rd world. Pretty soon Mozambiques roads will be better than ours - how scary is that. And not only are the roads C***, the street and highway lights are . .more off! P*******! Then the Taxman wants to get on my case - if he was a real guy, I'd give him a kick in the family jewels!! . .less by Irritated on January 25 2010, 12:47 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The African Adventure ... The pot holes have purposely been put onto our roads - to give the world cup a distinctive African flavour. We wouldn't want tourists to have a first world experience in Africa!!! by MIcky on January 25 2010, 13:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

JHB - Streets paved with gold! Miners just did a lousy job of filling the holes! by OBS on January 25 2010, 13:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Subpoenas The subpoenas against the unpatriotic writer is on its way. Issuing subpoenas against our critics and intimidating is something we do do efficiently - we learnt from Bob Mugoblin. by ANC on January 25 2010, 13:12 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Love it Amos Just moved up from CT so now have to work on my F1 skills - how to not get driven off the road for going less than 2x the speed limit all while avoiding the strategic obstacles. Holy C*** try Ballyclare road in Bryanston- size of a small swimming pool. by Dre on January 25 2010, 13:31 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

potholes We should have a national competition to see which city/ town has the biggest and mostist potholes. A prize for longest delay in repairs could be awarded. Bet you Durbs would win hands down. by Durbs girl on January 25 2010, 14:01 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

WTF you guys on about? The old Transkei doesn't brag about having potholes in their roads - they brag about having roads inside potholes. Beat that! by Dave on January 25 2010, 14:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The roads in this area have been falling apart for a year or so No one bothers to paint arrows on the road anymore, or demarcate islands. It looks like the yellow paint is missing. Also, for some reason, in Houghton, no one bothers to paint horizontal lines anymore, so drivers unfamiliar with intersections . .more tend to stop precariously close to cross-traffic Pedestrian markings have also been weathered away. Moneyweb/Politicsweb DO have the opportunity to be constructive here: name and shame the fool who runs the JRA depot nearest to this area (I think it's in Norwood). Mose real journalists would have done that anyway. . .less by Tf on January 25 2010, 19:39 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

POTHOLES I have always wondered why the pot holes are never repaired , now i know . If they were , the millions of municipal workers who we only see once a year when it comes to wage strikes wouldn't have anywhere to hide . by GATSONDEREND on January 25 2010, 21:04 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

good for business... why fix the potholes they are handy... automatically adjust your wheel alignment - after hitting the on between 4th and 7th avenue head towards the one on 1st ... also improves driving ability... who know its all part of the bigger . .more picture ... we gonna get the gautrain right? . .less by Rowena on January 26 2010, 01:04 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

No man's land near Roedan will top the list Lost my mag wheel end of November thanks to a pot hole enough for giraffe to hide in, on a road between Naboomspruit and Roedaan in Limpopo province. I found a driver battling to take out a puncher, I joined in and as I was about to leave another motorist . .more suffered the same fate. Thanks to this report I now know what to do next. . .less by Justice on January 26 2010, 06:30 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Rowena Sorry The Gautrain will only operate between terminal building one and Avis rentacar. There have been budget constrains since the original Gautrain people(Mubeki's pals) were removed from office and replaced with the new Gautrain people (mrPotato heads . .more people) At twice the original cost and 25 times what it would cost in Europe its too expensive to actually build the whole train and besides its not a steam loco it would require electricity which we don't seem to have. . .less by Fred on January 26 2010, 09:06 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Whiners I drove past River Street, and noticed that there was a large development underway near those potholes (probably more fake-Tuscan monstrosities). Want to bet that the potholes are being created by construction vehicles? Also want to bet on the skin colour . .more of the developer who is tearing the road up? Also you can call Joburg Connect to log the potholes, or do it via the e-Services website, and they do get around to fixing potholes. Granted, preventative maintenance is the correct way, but the larnies of Houghton could easily report these holes, and see them fixed, for a lot less effort than creating this article took. But, of course, whinging is more fun. . .less by ff on January 26 2010, 12:41 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Where did the money go. The brave CEO of the Road Authority have now explained the situation and we must be big-hearted and forgive. See http://letterdash.com/g.annandale/masondo-and-the-potholes by Geanann on January 27 2010, 09:50 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Pothole Paradise Given all the potholes, SA has become the sieve of Africa. A world-class African city. A reasonable response would be: of all the African cities in the world, this one is the BEST: - Best and biggest potholes. - Awful city . .more management yet a clean audit every year. - Population influx control - NOT. - An international airport that wants to raise taxes in order to pay a lucrative dividend to its shareholders. - Crime in abundance. - Is it true the multi-million rand (011) 375 5555 Call Centre will be closed down? . .less by Bob on February 08 2010, 10:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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