0 of 2
What’s in a name?
A pothole — or at least that’s according to frustrated residents who have taken it upon themselves to give names to many of the craters in the tar along Victoria Drive.
From Sam and Mike to Bert and Fred, if you are driving along this road — a main artery to some of the Bay’s beaches including Schoenmakerskop and Sardinia Bay — you will be forgiven for thinking they are mini graves.
But in true South African style, residents have found a little humour in a dire situation.
To raise awareness around the escalating issue, residents, who described them as “monster potholes”, painted circles around them and spray-painted a name next to each to make them more visible to motorists.
Visiting the area this week, a Herald team spotted at least five of the named potholes that have had tongues wagging on social media.
Newly elected Bay roads and transport boss Yolisa Pali said when residents became frustrated they were often prompted to take matters into their own hands.
“It’s bad, but we need to move with speed when we receive complaints from the public on service delivery matters,” Pali said.
“The potholes in question will be the first thing to be fixed tomorrow [Thursday] morning, I am 100% sure.
“I have given a directive to the official responsible for potholes.”
Schoenmakerskop resident Luc Hosten said the creative effort by residents had made the potholes more visible.
“I’m not sure who started it, or why, but it has certainly drawn attention to the growing number of potholes and it does make them more visible,” Hosten said.
“There has been a suggestion on the Schoenies [Facebook] page that they should be named after local politicians.
“Maybe they’re up for adoption and the new parents can fill them with good, nourishing tar?”
Another resident, Nic Bunn, said it was high time the potholes were fixed.
“The municipality must do something about it,” he said.
Sardinia Bay resident Marizanne Kemp said she had a good laugh when she spotted the painted potholes.
“But one thing is for sure; if I were in the municipality and responsible for maintaining the roads, I would resign,” she said.
“It was funny to see; I had a lovely chuckle.
“It certainly gives people a clearer way of spotting them. But the truth is, it needs to be fixed.
“Many fatal accidents have occurred on this road which is in a bad state and riddled with potholes.”
The state of roads in the Eastern Cape continues to be a contentious topic.
The SA Human Rights Commission released a report in October regarding the findings of an inquiry it had launched into the impact of road conditions on human rights in the Eastern Cape.
The inquiry was launched in November 2023.
The report revealed that inadequate road infrastructure continued to hamper access to essential services, particularly in rural communities.
“These road conditions have perpetuated historical inequalities and have resulted in ongoing human rights violations,” the report says.
“A key finding of the inquiry is that the persistent lack of road maintenance and development contributes to widespread violations of fundamental rights, including access to education as guaranteed by Section 29 of the constitution, the right to health care under Section 27, and the right to safety and security under Section 12.
“These rights are significantly compromised, particularly in rural areas where road infrastructure remains grossly inadequate.
“The poor state of roads has a devastating impact on critical sectors, especially agriculture, tourism and emergency medical services.”
It also found that farming communities were struggling to transport goods due to inaccessible and dilapidated roads, limiting their ability to access markets, resulting in severe financial losses.
“One of the most pressing issues identified is the substantial backlog in road infrastructure development in the Eastern Cape, with only 9% of roads being paved, compared to the national average of 25%,” the report says.
“This backlog, a legacy of historical neglect, is exacerbated by the lack of sufficient funding and poor infrastructure planning.”
HeraldLIVE
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.