The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport says it is making headway in its efforts to maintain provincial roads as its PotholeFixGP mobile application helps it to identify deteriorating infrastructure.
The department said this week that since the app’s launch in 2022, a total of 38 790 potholes have been repaired by its regional maintenance teams.
Of the 3 926 potholes the public reported via the app, 2 814 have already been fixed, representing a 72% repair rate.
“This excludes potholes, over 200, located on provincial roads that are on or scheduled for full rehabilitation,” the department said in a statement.
Since May, the app has seen 15 701 downloads on Android devices and 3 430 on iOS, indicating a strong uptake from the public.
“Motorists in the province have embraced the tool to report poor road conditions and non-functioning traffic lights in the province,” the department said, adding that the app had become an essential mechanism for real-time communication between road users and government.
The app was initially developed to streamline and digitise the reporting of potholes but has since expanded to include non-functioning traffic signals. It features two interfaces – a mobile platform for public reporting and a web application dashboard that allows the department to track, allocate and resolve cases efficiently using real-time data.
“PotholeFixGP uses geographic information system technology, allowing it to pinpoint the exact location of reported maintenance issues and allocate the issue to the correct road authority for repair and maintenance,” the department said.
In terms of specific pothole repair performance, the app has delivered the following results:
• Krugersdorp (Greater Johannesburg): 2 181 potholes reported, 1 710 repaired
• Benoni (City of Ekurhuleni): 430 reported, 288 repaired
• Derdepoort (Tshwane): 763 reported, 375 repaired. The region also recorded the highest number (177) of potholes on roads scheduled for rehabilitation
• Vereeniging (Sedibeng): 495 reported, 423 repaired
• Bronkhorstspruit (Tshwane): 57 reported, 18 repaired
“To date, a total of 3 926 potholes have been reported along provincial roads since May 2022, with 892 still pending repair, of which a portion lies on roads awaiting full-scale rehabilitation,” the department said.
Apart from pothole repairs the department said it was also focused on its broader routine road maintenance agenda.
This includes gravel surface maintenance to ensure access and safety on rural and secondary roads; road marking maintenance; road traffic signal maintenance and structural maintenance which involves routine inspections, and the upkeep of bridges and other structures.
“The department remains committed to improving road conditions, addressing community and motorists’ concerns promptly and leveraging technology for better service delivery,” the department said.
