The Escalating Road Maintenance Crisis in South Africa

The escalating road maintenance crisis in South Africa means many of us drive on treacherous roads.

In March 2022, the poor state of our roads once again made the news when a car in Jo’burg was swallowed by a pothole, reported but not fixed for several months.

Increasingly, poorly maintained roads are a direct cause of road accidents, resulting in serious injuries and deaths.

Road maintenance backlog in South Africa

The statistics on South Africa’s road maintenance backlog explain the state of our roads.

Speaking at a road construction indaba in 2022, Transport Minister, Fikile Mbalula, said that roughly 40% of provincial roads and 80% of South Africa’s national roads are at the end of their design life.

It’s estimated that South Africa now needs upwards of R200 billion to fund road maintenance.

As a BusinessTech article recently put it, the country has “driven into a R200 billion-plus pothole.”

An additional R27.5 billion would be required to grow the road network by 1% annually.

Combine this with an estimated 4% increase in road traffic per annum and it’s unsurprising many of our roads are unsafe to drive on.

Gravel road maintenance in South Africa

Over 75% of gravel roads are considered to be in poor condition.

According to one estimate, it would take R115 billion to get the high-volume gravel roads upgraded and R1.7 trillion to upgrade all gravel roads.

This would require a 4% rise in VAT or an additional R3 per litre fuel levy.

Regular maintenance keeps roads safe

Many areas of South Africa only have gravel roads.

They require constant maintenance to keep them safe.

Without regular grading, dirt roads develop ridges, potholes and a loose surface, which makes them unsafe to drive on.

This is particularly dangerous in rural areas where access to emergency services is inadequate.

Road damage in South Africa

Damage to roads isn’t always caused by poor maintenance.

However, if the damage isn’t addressed and roads don’t get on-going maintenance, they deteriorate quickly.

Roads need constant maintenance and periodic resurfacing to stay in good condition and safe for road users.

There are three main causes of road damage: construction quality, environmental factors and excessive load.

Construction quality

If a road is poorly constructed, it will have on-going surface issues.

For example, if the ground beneath the road surface is unstable or incorrectly compacted, the surface shifts over time causing potholes and cracks.

Environmental factors

Environmental factors such as rain are a large contributor to poor road surfaces.

If a road surface has the tiniest imperfection, hard rain will quickly turn it into a deep pothole.

In some areas of South Africa, extreme temperatures are a factor too.

Excessive load

Heavy and constant traffic on a road creates wear and tear to the surface.

When maintenance is neglected, the road’s ability to handle heavy or constant traffic is compromised.

How poor road conditions can cause accidents

Many road accidents in South Africa are caused by poor road conditions, such as:

• deep potholes that cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles
• slippery surfaces or loose gravel that cause skidding
• rutted roads that cause significant damage to vehicles
• potholes that dent rims and burst tyres
• uneven or rough roads that cause damage to shocks, suspension and engine leaks.

Road accident claims due to poor road maintenance

Has the escalating road maintenance crisis in South Africa directly affected you?

Have you been in an accident caused by the treacherous state of our roads?

If so, the relevant responsible local authority or the State could, potentially, be liable for damages.

The first step in pursuing a claim for compensation is to contact suitably qualified attorneys.