In South Africa, potholes are a big problem for drivers. Fixing potholes is the job of The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA). But in the Johannesburg suburb of Melville, people decided to fix the problem themselves.
What was the problem?
The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) had too many roads to fix, causing long delays. These delays made potholes more dangerous. In Melville, new potholes were reported every week, showing that local roads were not getting fixed. The situation needed quick action.
How did they solve it?
Danyle Nunes, a Melville resident, decided to fix the bad road conditions. Danyle is an active member of community groups like the Melville Security Initiative and Melville Residents' Association. He saw the need for a community-based solution. He started CREASS, a company focused on fixing local issues like potholes, litter, and missing road markings. CREASS helped the community work with the local government, making repairs faster, from taking months to days.
How did they do it?
- CREASS checked Melville's streets regularly.
- They recorded each pothole and reported it to the JRA, making a list of repairs needed.
- If JRA was slow to respond, CREASS got permits to do the repairs themselves.
- They completed repairs using approved materials.
- CREASS is now working in nearby suburbs, helping communities to be strong and make changes.
Acknowledgements:
Original article written by: Waydon Jacobs
Photograph supplied by: Northcliff Melville Times
Get your community involved
Is there a community-driven group or caring business in your area? A dedicated group of committed people can effectively solve local problems.
Think about starting or joining community groups like a street WhatsApp group, residents' association, or community policing forum (CPF) to get help and to stay informed and involved in local issues.
How to set up a community group
How to start a residents' association
How to set up a community policing forum
How to set up a neighbourhood watch
How to organise community action
How to use media to create pressure for change
Know your rights – how local government works
It’s important to understand how your local government works so that you can work with them to support what they are doing while your community continues to keep them accountable and deliver services on time. Remember you have a constitutional right to many of the services provided by local government, as well as to accountability and transparency, wherever you live and regardless of how much you earn. It is also where money collected from taxes and rates goes.
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