BY LERATO PHOSISI
The sound of machinery and fresh tar has replaced years of frustration for residents of Dlamini in Ward 19, Region D, as the City of Johannesburg rolls out its high-impact Operation Restore road rehabilitation programme.
The intensive intervention, overseen by the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Transport, Cllr Kenny Kunene, is tackling long-standing infrastructure decay head-on. Teams from the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) are on the ground undertaking critical maintenance including stormwater clearing, pothole repairs, deep patching, renewal of faded road markings and repairs to damaged guardrails.
The operation is more than cosmetic — it is aimed at restoring safety, improving mobility and reclaiming dignity for motorists and pedestrians who have navigated deteriorating roads for months.
However, not all roads are a smooth fix. On Union Road, a major stormwater upgrade project implemented by the JRA on behalf of the Department of Human Settlements — remains stalled after the contractor abandoned the site following payment disputes. The City has clarified that the continuation of that specific project now falls under the Department of Human Settlements and is separate from the current Operation Restore activities.
Despite that setback, the momentum in Dlamini is visible and welcomed by residents. Operation Restore activities in the area are expected to continue until Friday, 25 September 2026, as part of the City’s broader drive to accelerate service delivery and repair Johannesburg’s collapsing road network.
For Dlamini, it is a long-awaited sign that the City is finally moving one pothole, one road marking, one guardrail at a time.
