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