A R280 million road rehabilitation project in Emfuleni is facing mounting scrutiny after several of the 40 upgraded roads were left in worse condition than before, with some abandoned midway despite millions already being paid to contractors.
What was meant to restore critical infrastructure has instead left communities grappling with crumbling surfaces, deep potholes and roads so severely damaged that taxis and emergency vehicles can no longer pass.
An oversight visit to key sites including Sekati Street in Boipatong, Nelson Mandela Road in Bophelong, Ezidumevu Street in Zone 6, and Sebe Street in Zone 7 revealed widespread deterioration, patchwork repairs and incomplete work.
Residents said their initial relief when the project began in February 2024 has turned into frustration and disbelief.
“The old tar road they fixed was in a better state than the new one they did,” said one resident, who asked not to be named.
The resident further alleged that inferior materials were used, with newly rehabilitated sections already peeling while older surfaces remain intact.
On Ezidumevu Street, only about 800 metres of road was repaired, leaving visible gaps between completed and untouched sections. Other areas were patched unevenly, and residents said the road is now unusable despite attempts by the community to fix it themselves.
In Bophelong, Nelson Mandela Road has been left incomplete and has since been turned into an illegal dumping site, worsening already dire conditions.
The Democratic Alliance’s Emfuleni mayoral candidate, Kingsol Chabalala, said the state of the roads raises serious questions about how public funds were spent.
He questioned how millions could be allocated to road rehabilitation only for conditions to deteriorate further, saying roads that once carried taxis and daily traffic are now effectively unusable.
“How is it possible that millions are spent on ‘fixing’ our roads, yet they end up worse than before?” Chabalala said.
He described widespread potholes and broken surfaces, warning that the damage is affecting residents’ ability to access work, schools and healthcare facilities.
“So where is the money really going? Because it’s clearly not going into quality work. Communities are suffering while public funds are being wasted,” he said.
Chabalala added that residents are growing increasingly frustrated with what he called poor workmanship and a lack of accountability.
“We are tired of empty promises and poor workmanship. Our taxes should fix roads, not destroy them. We deserve accountability, we deserve transparency, and we deserve roads that actually last,” he said.
He said years of neglect have already taken a toll on Emfuleni, adding that the municipality cannot afford further failures in service delivery.
“After years of neglect under the ANC, Emfuleni deserves better. Broken roads, failing services, and communities left behind cannot be the future of our municipality,” he said.
However, the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport has defended the project, insisting that all roads earmarked under the programme have been completed.
Department spokesperson Lesiba Mpya said the MEC conducted site visits during both construction and completion stages, with routine inspections carried out to monitor progress and quality.
“The MEC conducted site visits during both the construction and completion stages of the Emfuleni roads rehabilitation programme. The Department also conducted routine site inspections to monitor progress and assess the condition of the rehabilitated roads. Where defects were identified, contractors were instructed to address these in accordance with their contractual obligations.”
Mpya maintained that all 40 roads in the programme reached completion but acknowledged that in cases where projects were implemented through municipal contractors, responsibility lies with the municipality.
“In instances where defects were identified on roads implemented through contractors appointed by the Municipality, the Department instructed the Municipality to ensure that those contractors address the defects in line with their contractual obligations, as those contracts were administered by the Municipality,” he said.
He further stressed that payments to contractors are strictly controlled and linked to verified work.
“Payments to contractors are processed strictly based on work completed and verified on site in accordance with applicable contractual and financial management procedures,” Mpya added.
The department said multiple monitoring and quality assurance mechanisms were in place, including site inspections, certification processes and performance checks before payments were authorised.
Despite these assurances, conditions on the ground continue to tell a different story, with residents and opposition parties questioning whether the project delivered value for money.
Mpya said the department has processes to address underperformance, including enforcing defect corrections and applying contractual remedies where necessary, adding that the intervention was designed as a light rehabilitation programme to improve accessibility and road safety.
But for many residents, the reality remains unchanged, roads that were meant to be fixed are now worse than before.
The Star
masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za