One company says goodbye to 300,000 potholes in South Africa’s richest city

Discovery’s Pothole Patrol initiative has repaired a staggering 312,338 potholes in South Africa’s richest city.

Pothole Patrol, launched in May 2021, is a partnership between Discovery, Avis, and the City of Johannesburg that has thus far managed to repair approximately 75,000 potholes per year.

It has also resurfaced more than 40km of road in Joburg.

Discovery CEO Adrian Gore has cited the partnership as an example of how businesses can actively participate in efforts to improve service delivery.

While the insurance company undeniably benefits from a reduction in short-term claims for vehicle damage caused by potholes, the initiative is beneficial for all road users.

Gore even stated that the programme has benefitted Discovery’s competitors, who have also seen a reduction in claims for damages caused by potholes.

During his recent analyst presentation for the 2025 financial year, the CEO explained that the savings for Discovery Insure alone are enough to justify the initiative.

However, while Pothole Patrol has made significant progress, the roughly 300,000 road repairs made over four years still pale in comparison to the estimated 50,000 to 100,000 potholes estimated to be on South Africa’s roads on any given day.

These hazards can emerge very quickly in the right conditions when the road quality is poor and there is significant rainfall.

Joburg’s streets are notorious in this regard, as the highveld summers bring intense thunderstorms that cause significant damage to the local infrastructure.

This issue is exacerbated by a lack of maintenance and the increased volume of heavy goods vehicles on the roads – the result of companies becoming more reliant on trucks in the wake of Transnet’s collapse.

Potholes also erode further as they are exposed to the elements and high traffic volumes, turning small holes into dangerous crevices that can badly damage the tyres and undercarriage of passing cars.

This issue has become so widespread that insurance companies like Discovery are now taking matters into their own hands.

Potholes are estimated to cost South Africa R650 million through vehicle damage alone, creating a strong financial incentive for companies to fix the hazards to reduce short-term claims.

Crumbling infrastructure

Back in June, the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) announced it would undertake a massive project to address its deteriorating road infrastructure with a new pothole and resurfacing campaign.

The metro earmarked R149.9 million for the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) to fix potholes in key areas, covering 85km of roads.

The CoJ said that several areas have been identified as priority targets refurbishment following a Visual Conditions Assessment.

The assessment investigated different parts of the city and categorized the road infrastructure into five categories for “very poor, poor, fair, good, and very good.”

Roads that have been identified as “very poor” require a significant amount of work, possibly entailing the reconstructing or resurfacing of the entire section.

Based on this criteria, Kliptown, Nasrec, Eldorado Park, Sandton, and parts of the M1 were identified as areas of ‘most concern.’

“We understand the immense frustration caused by the current state of the city’s roads,” said JRA CEO Zweli Nyathi.

“This increased budget, up from R105 million last financial year, reflects our commitment to addressing roads that have deteriorated beyond repair and will restore the public’s trust in our infrastructure. We are focused on delivering tangible improvements that will alleviate the daily challenges faced by commuters.”