WATCH: Verulam voter hits the polls then a pothole

Roshan Lil-Ruthan and Annie Barath at the R102.

Verulam voter Annie Barath had just finished voting in Everest Heights and was on her way to deliver a cake in Phoenix when she hit a pothole on the R102, causing her tyre to burst.

At least 12 vehicles were reportedly damaged after hitting the same pothole, with residents calling for urgent repairs and warning of risks to motorists.

Barath, 46, a baker, said she voted before she could make her way to Phoenix to drop off a cake order.

When post.co.za met with Barath along the R102, she said she was driving along the freeway when a truck suddeny swerved onto her lane. 

“I had no choice but move away and I hit the pothole.

“I was afraid of stopping on the side of the freeway because of safety fears. My husband, who works in Phoenix, would have taken a long while to get to me.

“Thankfully, as I jumped off the vehicle to start changing the tyre, a good samaritan stopped to help me,” she said.

She said the R102 was her daily route, and residents were risking their lives travelling along that stretch of the road.

“There is no other way for us to get in and out of the town. This incident has affected my business, as the cake I was going to deliver was late because of the damage to my car. The inconvenience is frustrating. 

“If the pothole could not be fixed, then there should be a tape, or a barricade so that motorists are aware of it. At night, you cannot see the pothole, and unless you live in the area and are aware that it is there.

Roshan Lil-Ruthan stands at the pothole which caused damage to several vehicles in the last three months.

“It a motorist hits the pothole it can cause damage to your vehicle or even cause someone to have an accident.”

She said this incident had left her out of pocket with the unplanned for expense.

“This is the municipality’s problem, which we are forced to deal with daily. I voted to see change. I am reporting this to the Department of Transport.”

She said when she stopped, she noticed two other vehicles that were also pulled over at the side of the road with damages to their vehicles after they too had hit the pothole.

A few metres away from where Barath was pulled over, post.co.za spoke to Rishaad Ismail, who was on his way to deliver fuel for his company, when he hit the pothole and was forced to stop.

Rishaad Ismail changes his tyre along the R102.

Ismail said he travelled on the R102 daily, and most times he was able to avoid the pothole. 

He said he could not wait for anyone to come to his assistance, and could not accept assistance from strangers as he was concerned about being robbed or hijacked.

“I will change the tyre by myself quickly and then be on my way. If I accept help, who knows what could happen,” Ismail added.

He said he had voted early so he could continue with his work for the day, and said he felt like he was voting for nothing, as he felt change was not coming soon.

Roshan Lil-Ruthan, chairperson of the Verulam Business Forum, said on Tuesday, 12 vehicles were damaged after hitting the pothole.

He said it was an “everyday occurrence” where the community group chats were flooded with motorists reporting that they were stranded along the freeway after hitting the pothole.

“It is a completely ridiculous and unacceptable situation. It is a pothole that should be filled within an hour, but is left in this state for the past three months, with no action, no barricade, posing a danger to motorists. We are calling on the relevant authorities to address this,” he added.