JOHANNESBURG - Johannesburg’s deteriorating roads are turning into a costly nightmare for drivers, with potholes causing everything from blown tyres to mangled suspensions.
Repair bills are driven as high as R25,000 according to Daniel Bezuidenhout, workshop manager at Topgear Service Centre in Randburg.
Bezuidenhout says pothole damage is a daily problem, especially when heavy downpours widen craters.
He said customers report damage after driving through water-filled potholes they couldn’t see.
"We handle multiple cases per week, but this number can spike depending on road conditions in specific areas," he said.
The most frequent problems include:
• Tyres: A sudden jolt can puncture them, bulge sidewalls, or shred them entirely. • Suspension: Shocks, struts, and control arms get battered, leading to poor handling. • Alignment: Steering becomes shaky, and tyres wear unevenly after a hard impact. |
In some cases, vehicles suffer extensive underbody damage where potholes scrape the exhaust system or oil pan.
These repairs can get expensive. Costs vary depending on the severity of the damage and the type of vehicle.
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Natashe Taylor from TiAuto Investments says that there are no wheels that are resistant to pothole damage.
However, higher-quality materials and designs of premium brands offer better durability and impact resistance as opposed to budget tyres.
But even top-tier tyres are no match for Johannesburg’s crumbling roads.
The issue grabbed national attention last week when President Cyril Ramaphosa toured Gauteng and slammed the city’s road conditions and lagging services.
With Johannesburg set to host the G20 Summit — Africa’s first — Ramaphosa warned that the city’s woes ripple beyond its borders.
He’s launched the Presidential Johannesburg Working Group to tackle the infrastructure mess head-on.
Mayor Dada Morero embraced the President’s backing, insisting Joburg isn’t a lost cause.
“We’re already working to turn things around,” he said, promising faster progress with the new support.
But as billions get earmarked for fixes, skepticism lingers.
- by Zandile Khumalo
Can the “City of Gold” reclaim its lustre, or will it stay the “City of Holes” for drivers dodging disaster?