Wallacedene residents have called on the City of Cape Town to fix the potholes in their streets.
They say almost all the streets in the area have potholes.
Resident Veliswa Qanda accused the City of letting contractors get away with doing shoddy work on the roads.
“The City officials need to monitor their subcontractors,” she said, adding that tar was coming off some of the roads in Wallacedene.
A motorist, Mzwanele Mtsi, said all the streets in Wallacedene had potholes and he blamed the City for the problem.
“That means what they did was not up to standard. Comparing our streets to Voortrekker Road, which is the busiest road but is still intact, it tells you there is something wrong.
“In Wallacedene there are some streets that are not busy but still there are potholes,” said Mr Mtsi.
He said the City should provide the same services in poor areas that it did in wealthy areas.
“I’m working in Brackenfell, and it’s rare to see potholes on their streets, whereas you’d think they’d be more common because each family has a car,” he said.
Asked if he had spoken to the councillor about the pothole problem, Mr Mtsi said: “There is no need to tell him. He is driving on these potholes every day. It’s clear that he doesn’t do his job properly.”
Ward councillor Simphiwe Nonkeyizana said Sub-council 2 had met with the City’s department of roads and stormwater about the potholes.
“The City vowed to fix them but didn’t specify when they(City) are going to start. I must emphasise that there are other potholes that are already filled up with sand which is a temporary measure for motorists.”
He questioned the quality of work the City had done on the streets.
“There are other streets that are totally damaged. There is Mtyobile Street and Van De Heever Crescent both became gravel roads. There is no tar and it raises questions as to the kind of work that the City rendered because the area (Phase 2) has only been established for 12 years and it can’t be the lifespan of the road.
“And I don’t believe the City can allow an inexperienced company to work because all the companies who are working for the City are rated.”
He said the potholes were dangerous for both motorists and pedestrians.
“Sometimes you’ll find that a motorist is avoiding a pothole and ends up hitting a pedestrian along the road,” he said.
The City did not respond to questions before this edition went to print.
