Johannesburg Fixes 330,000 Potholes Since 2021

Kgotso Pule calls himself Superman, and he's not exaggerating about the lives he saves. As supervisor of one of eight mobile Pothole Patrol teams in Johannesburg, he spends every workday preventing accidents by filling dangerous holes in city streets.

Since 2021, the Discovery Pothole Patrol initiative has repaired more than 330,000 potholes across Johannesburg. Working from 9am to 3:30pm daily, these eight teams clean, seal, and fill between 15 and 20 potholes each day using specialized European technology.

The process is surprisingly sophisticated. After barricading the work site and removing debris, crews pour sealant into the hole and use a heating device to soften the existing tarmac. Fresh tar is then applied, creating a bond that has achieved a remarkable 0.2% failure rate.

Residents can report potholes through an app by uploading pictures and details. An inspector verifies each report, marks the potholes needing repair, and dispatches a van to the location.

Busisiwe Mbewe, who acts as inspector and traffic controller, calls the project her "little baby." She's watched it grow over five years and fallen in love with the work. Once on William Nicol Drive, her team stayed until 7pm to fix one more dangerous pothole before anyone could get hurt.

Jan Makwela, who operates the heating machine, shares that same dedication. After five years on the job, he lights up when motorists honk and give thumbs up as they drive past his work sites.

Why This Inspires

CEO Tatum de Lange explains the secret to their success: treating tarmac like skin. "Dry, cracked tarmac allows for water penetration and this leads to potholes," she says. By heating the surface, repairs bind seamlessly with existing roads.

De Lange had zero experience in pothole repair when she started but quickly developed expertise that's now making a meaningful impact on drivers' lives. The partnership between Discovery, Avis, the City of Joburg, and the Joburg Roads Agency proves what's possible when organizations work together with passionate people.

Residents wave and cheer as they pass the cheerful crews working along Victoria Avenue in Melrose. In a city often defined by infrastructure challenges, these teams are writing a different story, one filled pothole at a time.