In July 2022, a collaboration between the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GDRT) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) resulted in the province’s #PotholeFixGP App initiative. Dr. Mathetha Mokonyama of CSIR said that the app was created to be user-friendly, to make it easier to report potholes, and to better detect and manage damaged road infrastructure in the province. This initiative falls under the Smart Mobility Campaign which aims to “leverag[e] new technologies to assist with the monitoring and maintaining of traffic signals, potholes, and other road defects that require urgent attention.”
The #PotholeFixGP app, which was made available for download on Google Play and the Apple iStore, was well received and recorded 4 861 downloads on the Google Play Store, with 1547 potholes reported by users in its first few weeks. Currently, downloads are up to 8,300 for Android users and there are over 950 IoS downloads, and more than 7,400 total potholes have been reported.
Gauteng Department of Economic Development in Partnership with Uber Eats.
#PotholeFixGP App Has Been Updated with New Features to Enhance Reporting
This year, the #PotholeFixGP App has updated features that add to its functionality and enhance motorists’ user experience.
“It is ultimately set up to improve service delivery to the people of Gauteng.”
“The APP can provide a status update of the traffic signal and potholes ranging from reported, assigned, to completed. It further allows for checking and verifying whether a reported traffic signal/pothole is on a municipal, provincial, or national (SANRAL) road.”
The GDRT is enthusiastic about the rising number of downloads of the app and is encouraging Gauteng residents to partner with it in using it. They further explained:
“PotholeFixGP serves to build relationships with motorists/road users, so they become eyes and ears of the Department in keeping road infrastructure conditions conducive for a safe and pleasant driving experience.”
