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The Johannesburg Road Agency (JRA) has issued a stern warning that everyone who is caught ‘defacing or branding’ potholes, will be issued a fine. This also holds true for citizens who fix potholes, which is illegal in terms of the city’s bylaws.

Let’s ignore the burning question of how one goes about defacing a pothole for now as we quote the statement reported by The Citizen, and released by the people who are supposed to fix the potholes in the first place, but don’t: “No person may in any way deface, mark or paint any public road or part of a public road or any structure related to such road, without the prior written permission of the Council.”

Perhaps we are missing a little bit of context here. Yes, anyone painting over a stop sign or ‘defacing’ a school crosswalk should be ashamed and surely be fined.

But seeing as the rulers of our cities, and most of the other towns in our potholed-filled country, are unable and unwilling to do anything but fight over their space at the trough, should filling in potholes not be seen as ‘active citizenry’?

We are by no means advocating for people to break the law, but when the law prohibits citizens from saving their own neighbourhoods and avoiding the estimated R24 Million in damages, caused by potholes in the last 3 months, should the bylaws not rather be changed instead of making criminals out of someone who doesn’t want their Kia Picanto to disappear down a sinkhole in front of their yard? Just asking for a friend.

The bunch of incompetents in charge seem to be miffed that people are tagging the potholes with the ANC’s name but, come next year every light pole will be decorated with their lying posters.

Writing ‘ANC’ next to a donga in your street should rather be seen as an ‘honest election campaign’, not a crime.  You know, the kind that shows exactly what you are doing, and not the kak you say you will do.

I’m not alone in thinking the JRA are spending too much time going after people who are doing their jobs, and as soon as the ‘Potholes R Us’ people put out the statement, Mzansi klapped back.

I was going to write you a note on my street but paint doesn’t stick to water and mud.
This is my street you refuse to repair. #useless pic.twitter.com/asL5wDdANR

— Greg Crighton (@CaptainGrogg) April 21, 2023

When your guy comes along with our fine notice, please tell him to bring a spade and some tar, and he can help us fill a few potholes. As if an agency that can’t find and fill the holes in the first place is capable of prosecuting anyone 🙄😂

— Heather Irvine (@HeatherIrv) April 22, 2023

And yet our roads in JHB remain a nightmare to drive on. You need to develop a thicker skin and just do your job by fixing the roads. It’s really that simple. Instead of wasting time and effort moaning at folks for highlighting how bad your service delivery is! 🤬

— Wayne Reid (@fivelza) April 21, 2023

The government is still mulling over whether they should arrest a wanted war criminal when he comes to South Africa, yet they threaten people who just want to get to work without killing themselves with by-laws that pale in comparison to the international charters they have signed.

I may be wrong, after all, our laws are what keep us safe and secure, so they need to be respected. It might be better to just abide by the by-laws and let all the roads fall to pieces. It’s not as if any minister drives on your road, so they will not be embarrassed or inconvenienced in any way.

In the end, isn’t that what matters the most?

[source:citizen]