In the midst of the controversy surrounding the largely unpopular e-tolling system of SANRAL (South African National Roads Agency Limited), the agency has shown its willingness to deliver on the mandate to manage the N1 roads and repair potholes.

On 28 September, some huge potholes were photographed just north of the Baobab toll plaza on the N1 between Makhado (Louis Trichardt) and Musina. By 5 October, they had been repaired.  

“SANRAL has a ‘48-hour turnaround’ time from the reporting to repair of a pothole on national roads. It is this quick turnaround, among other factors, that keeps South Africa's national roads in top condition,” said SANRAL's project manager, Mr Vusi Mona. Motorists may have noticed the progress on the pothole repairs on the stretch between the Hendrik Verwoerd tunnels and Musina. “But it was really bad,” said one driver.

The unfairness of paying toll and having to drive on pothole-infested roads is a frustration to many a motorist. The huge potholes near the Baobab toll plaza were some of those really frustrating ones, because of the possibility of vehicle damage and the fact that money had just been forked out to pay toll.

The Baobab toll plaza is managed by SANRAL and the toll fees are utilised for road maintenance on the N1. The agency manages 59% of the 3 120km of toll roads in the country.

SANRAL was asked what the cost was to repair a big pothole of half a meter in diameter. No approximate amount was given as Muna said that the cost of repairing potholes varied, and size was but one determining factor. “We spend billions annually on road maintenance, which includes major road works, periodic and routine maintenance work, improvements and repairing of defects, cracks and structural damage to road. The agency is also responsible for non-pavement work on the national road, such as vegetation control, road sign repairs and the clearing of side drains and culverts,” Muna said. The public may notify SANRAL of potholes on the national roads.

Drivers on the N1 were assured that damages may be claimed if a vehicle’s tyre should indeed be damaged as a result of a pothole on a SANRAL road. In order to submit a claim, it goes without saying that the damage has to be evident and substantiated. Extensive details have to be provided, including details of the owner of the vehicle, of the driver and his driver’s license, of the incident and of the damage, with photographic evidence and three repair quotations. No duplicate claims may be handed in, therefore the vehicle owner has to claim either from SANRAL or from his insurer.