मैगज़्टर गोल्ड के साथ असीमित हो जाओ

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कोशिश गोल्ड - मुक्त

Insurance claims surge amid crumbling roads crisis

Weekend Argus on Saturday

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April 26, 2025

GIVEN the prevalence of potholes, sometimes craters, that dog South Africa's roads, perhaps Waze should stop warning drivers about them and let those behind the wheel know that the next stretch of road doesn't require a 4x4 to navigate.

- NICOLA MAWSON

Insurance claims surge amid crumbling roads crisis

The sheer extent of the problem is shown by how many potholes are being filled. The latest information, from 2022, shows that the government's Operation Vala Zonke has filled almost 200,000 potholes: almost two-thirds of these are in Johannesburg.

As Tando Ngibe, senior manager at Budget Insurance, said: "Dodging potholes has increasingly become a professional sport, but doing so can, and sometimes does, result in car accidents. Even if hitting a pothole doesn't cause an accident, the damage incurred is significant."

Ernest North, co-founder of Naked Insurance, explained that the combination of ongoing heavy rains and storms has caused more extensive road damage than usual. "Wet weather also makes it harder for drivers to spot potholes, especially when they're filled with water, increasing the risk of hitting one unexpectedly."

While the 2022 cost to fix a pothole was between R700 and R1 500 per square metre, depending on the size of the hole, car owners and insurance companies also face a financial burden.

Santam's 2022/23 Insurance barometer - the latest available - found that two thirds of the 167 brokers it surveyed reported an increase in client claims, which was mostly attributed to loadshedding, failing infrastructure (potholes/poor road maintenance) and an increase in crime, with the addition of extreme weather on the commercial side.

Weekend Argus on Saturday से और कहानियाँ

Weekend Argus on Saturday

Weekend Argus on Saturday

'Ramaphosa agreed to disband Political Killings Task Team'

SUSPENDED police minister Senzo Mchunu testified that he briefed President Cyril Ramaphosa about his decision to disband the Political Killing Task Team (PKTT) and added that the commander-in-chief was in agreement with it.

time to read

3 mins

October 18, 2025

Weekend Argus on Saturday

Is Sea Point losing its soul to commercialisation?

RESIDENTS CONCERNED

time to read

3 mins

October 18, 2025

Weekend Argus on Saturday

Integrity of judiciary under scrutiny

KWAZULU-NATAL'S police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, has ignited a firestorm of controversy this week as he made several high-profile requests to Parliament.

time to read

3 mins

October 11, 2025

Weekend Argus on Saturday

Justice for Palestine, say SA activists

CEASEFIRE NOT ENOUGH

time to read

2 mins

October 11, 2025

Weekend Argus on Saturday

Weekend Argus on Saturday

A cap, a coat, a remote control: Mthethwa's belongings given to widow

A CAP, a coat, and a remote control: these were the belongings handed to the widow of South Africa’s Ambassador to France, Nkosinathi “Nathi” Emmanuel Mthethwa, after his tragic death at an upmarket Paris hotel this week.

time to read

1 mins

October 04, 2025

Weekend Argus on Saturday

Sale of CTICC still under review

THE future of the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) remains under review as the City of Cape Town explores the possible sale of its 72.7% shareholding in the landmark facility.

time to read

2 mins

October 04, 2025

Weekend Argus on Saturday

Activists demand release of flotilla volunteers

PICKETS against the ongoing crisis in Palestine are a familiar sight, but yesterday, gatherings across South Africa focused on the detention of humanitarian volunteers captured by Israeli forces while en route to aid Gaza.

time to read

4 mins

October 04, 2025

Weekend Argus on Saturday

End of Political Killings Task Team in focus

KZN National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) head, Elaine Harrison said her office was never formally informed of the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), saying she would have objected to the decision because of the team’s good work.

time to read

1 mins

September 27, 2025

Weekend Argus on Saturday

Dire impact of rogue parents on teachers

PARENTAL aggression has pushed already-stretched teachers past their limits, forcing many to leave the profession, and in some cases, the country.

time to read

3 mins

September 27, 2025

Weekend Argus on Saturday

Alleged abuse of racehorses in spotlight

HORSERACING is a multi-million rand business in South Africa, but behind the glitz and glamour of racing events and the betting that goes with it, are the horses, whom the National Council of SPCA's (NSPCA) say are subject to abuse, illegal harnessing, including the racing of horses that are too young to race.

time to read

3 mins

September 20, 2025

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