​By Staff writer
The Department of Roads and Transport is undertaking roads rehabilitation programme to conduct preventative and periodic maintenance on the network to prevent further deterioration.
In the course of their work, officials have identified provincial roads that are in a very poor condition, making patching of potholes not viable. Sections of these 131 roads are in need of urgent rehabilitation or in some cases, reconstruction.
The maintenance and capital projects are intended to improve pavement life and mobility, promote participation of small and emerging contractors, facilitate economic growth whilst also empowering communities.
This is in line with the Gauteng Provincial Government's elevated priorities to fast-track service delivery whilst providing a world-class road infrastructure promoting economic growth, social cohesion and inclusivity. 
These roads were identified as in such a poor condition that it is not viable to fix potholes. However, as an emergency measure, potholes reported are being attended to. This is not expected to be a long-term intervention as these roads require rehabilitated or in some cases, reconstruction.
The Department, has for the long-term, adopted a strategy to conduct planned preventative and periodic maintenance on the road network to prevent roads further deterioration. This will be to prevent such poor condition that potholes start to form leading to major rehabilitation becoming necessary.
Departmental maintenance projects are undertaken under the auspices of Roads Infrastructure Strategic Framework for South Africa (RISFSA) routine road maintenance contracts. These are tendered contracts and winners are bound to facilitate active participation by small and emerging contractors. 
MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has maintained that all contractors working on Departmental projects should strive to at all times "deliver a quality product, on time and within budget".
To report poor road conditions in the province, download the PotholeFixAPP on https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=za.co.thinkninjas.csir_pothole&gl=ZA