JOHANNESBURG - The South African city of Johannesburg will be at the centre of the football world cup in 2010. Two of the city's stadiums will host world cup games, and the first and final matches will be played there. FIFA's official website describes Joburg as a city "situated right in the very heart of South Africa, and because of its central position it draws many people together, creating a thrilling city in which many different cultures mix, producing a delightfully varied experience for any tourist."
One of the things that makes Joburg the thrilling place it undoubtedly is, is the varied state of its roads. The presence of a large and diverse population of holes in the city's streets is a source of some debate among Joburgers. On the side there are those who regard them as a menace and their presence as a blight. On the other, there are those who believe that the filling in and repair of such holes is a trivial matter which should not be allowed to get in the way of more important objectives (like not cleaning the streets).
The municipality clearly leans towards the latter viewpoint. It appears to be of the opinion that given enough time Joburgers will stop viewing particular potholes as unwelcome intruders and instead start viewing them, with fondness, as old friends.
In any event, whether residents love or loathe their presence, they have learnt to live with them. Potholes tend to go unrepaired for so long that, after a certain period, most local motorists are aware of where they are, and know exactly when to swerve to avoid them.
Visitors to Africa's richest city are, however, unlikely to possess such local knowledge. For this reason we are publishing the following brief introductory guide.
1. The classic pothole - River Street, Houghton Estate
There are many different kinds of holes in Johannesburg's roads. But below is a picture of a classic pothole. This one is at a particularly sneaky age. It is still sufficiently small to be hard to spot, but is just large and deep enough to leap out at any unsuspecting automobile that passes its way - before running off with one of its tires.
2. The disappearing road (A) - River Street, Houghton Estate
One way of solving Johannesburg pothole problem would be to do away with its roads altogether. This seems to be happening to River Street on the Killarney Houghton border (not too far from the residences of former presidents Thabo Mbeki and Nelson Mandela). It has taken the first important steps towards disappearing completely.
The disappearing street (B) - River Street, Houghton Estate
The disappearing street (C) - River Street, Houghton Estate
3. The man made hole in the road - Wells Ave, Saxonwold
A perennial problem in Johannesburg is the digging of trenches and holes in the road. Unlike the classic pothole (see above) it is not possible to drive around the trench (see below). Such holes usually go unrepaired by the City Council for several weeks, while becoming progressively deeper and more dangerous. Sometimes they are not exceedingly well marked...
4. The man made trench in the road - Kernick Ave, Melrose North
And sometimes they are...
5. The ‘repaired' trench - Bompas Road, Dunkeld
There is usually only one thing more dangerous than a trench in the road, and that is one the municipality has tried to fix. The city council is of the view, it seems, that the best way of fixing a hole - the first time around - is to fill it with sand and cover it with a thin layer of tarmac. The sand soon washes away, leaving a deep but hard to spot hole.
6. The Groot Gat of Killarney - Riviera Road, Killarney
Like South Africa's famous wildlife Johannesburg potholes can be at once wonderous and frightening. Why travel all the way to the Northern Cape to see Kimberley's Big Hole when the equally impressive Groot Gat of Killarney can be viewed within the borders of Johannesburg itself?
Is there a pothole of distinction in your area? Email a photograph and its location to [email protected]
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