{
  "id": 6132878,
  "title": "Here’s how many potholes were repaired in Gauteng in the last year",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/heres-how-many-potholes-were-repaired-in-gauteng-in-the-last-year",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-07T12:35:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/news/heres-how-many-potholes-were-repaired-in-gauteng-in-the-last-year/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Gauteng, the Department of Roads and Transport repaired 52,000 potholes during the 2025/26 financial year, according to their annual report. This repair effort contributed to the department's progress despite ongoing challenges. The report also highlighted the creation of 30 jobs through the Smart Licensing Centres in Mamelodi, Soweto, and Mohlakeng. However, the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GDRT) acknowledged that issues remain, such as infrastructure backlogs, project delays, contractor performance problems, and financial constraints. GDRT spokesperson Kedibone Diale-Tlabela pointed out that the infrastructure backlog persists, road safety is a critical concern, and certain areas require targeted corrective actions. To address these challenges, Diale-Tlabela suggested enhancing project planning, contract management, programme monitoring, and consequence management to pinpoint and improve performance. She also noted that the department must focus on aligning planning, budgeting, and implementation to ensure proper resource allocation, measurable goals, and clear responsibilities with defined timeframes. Furthermore, Diale-Tlabela emphasized that the department should be evaluated based on its delivery of services, including fixing roads, restoring public transport infrastructure, ensuring safe and functional transportation, and directing infrastructure investments towards economic growth and opportunity creation.",
  "summary": "Other challenges include infrastructure backlogs, implementation delays, contractor performance, project disruptions, and financial pressures.",
  "key_points": [
    "Gauteng repaired 52,000 potholes in 2025/26 financial year",
    "Department created 30 jobs through Smart Licensing Centres",
    "Challenges include infrastructure backlogs and project delays"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport's progress in repairing potholes and creating jobs masks ongoing challenges, including infrastructure backlogs and financial constraints, that require improved planning and management.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}