Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Daily Maverick
Published on 2024-02-20 23:37:20
Champagne Valley in Cathkin Park, South Africa is known for its stunning natural beauty and picturesque landscapes. However, the area is also plagued by a notorious issue – potholes. Potholes have become a topic of humor and frustration for residents and visitors alike.
Warren Wootton, a visitor to Dragon Peaks, shared a photo of a pothole in the shape of Africa, with the caption, “Oh the irony.” Catherine Mitchell captured a photo of a pothole on the Grahamstown Bedford Road. Another Daily Maverick reader shared a photo of a pothole in Melrose, Johannesburg, jokingly commenting that it had been there forever.
In Radiokop, a pothole seems to reappear in the same spot year after year, despite numerous attempts to fill it in. One resident took matters into their own hands and placed a potted geranium in the hole to warn oncoming traffic of the hazard. Another resident shared a festive photo of a pothole decorated with tinsel, lamenting the repeated “fixing” of the hole and teasing plans for a Valentine’s Day beautification.
In a creative twist, a dentist practice used a pothole as an advertising tool, pairing a photo of the cavity with the caption, “Don’t let your teeth deteriorate like our roads.” Meanwhile, in Knysna, a pothole had become so deep that someone had placed warning measures around it and a sign that read, “It’s our democracy, we must own it.”
One resident shared a photo of a pothole in Parktown North, Johannesburg, commenting on Johannesburg Water’s slow response to filling it in. In contrast, another resident joked that in Cape Town, the City Council repairs potholes too quickly for anyone to capture a photo.
The issue of potholes extends beyond urban areas, with photos of potholes on rural roads and the challenges posed by heavy trucks and inoperative railway systems. Residents and visitors in various areas of South Africa have been expressing their frustration and amusement at the prevalence of potholes in the country.
In response to the problem, the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) has developed a pothole app for reporting potholes. The app aims to provide a solution to the issue by allowing users to report potholes directly to the relevant authorities.
Potholes have become a prevalent issue in South Africa, impacting both urban and rural areas. While they have become a source of frustration for many, residents and visitors have also found humor in the situation. As the conversation around potholes in South Africa continues, it is clear that they remain a persistent and widespread issue that requires attention and action.
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