Mayor Morero gaslights Cosmo City over potholes

CITY of Joburg Mayor Dada Morero and Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) CEO Zweli Nyathi say the pothole crisis in Cosmo City is caused by residents, illegal car washes, and overcrowding, rather than failing infrastructure.

- SIMON MAJADIBODU

Morero led the “War on Potholes” operation in the area yesterday.

The initiative aims to repair potholes and resurface roads across the city.

Cosmo City is among several areas battling poor service delivery, including pothole-riddled roads, persistent sewer spills, and blocked stormwater drains.

Morero denied that the issue was a service delivery failure, instead blaming bylaw violations and illegal developments.

“No, it’s not a service delivery crisis. Its bylaw enforcement. All the damages we've seen here are the result of the community's actions, not infrastructure failure; he said.

“There are high levels of encroachment, illegal connections, and sewer lines connected to stormwater drains. We must address those issues first.”

Morero said resolving these issues would make it easier to reinstate and maintain existing infrastructure.

“The programme is mainly about bylaw enforcement. We're bringing in the Metropolitan Police Department Services (MPDS) from tomorrow and will focus on enforcing the law,’ he added.