By Koena Moabelo
As part of assessing work undertaken by the Johannesburg Road Agency (JRA) to fix and maintain traffic lights in the city, Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela undertook an inspection to see progress made. The MEC visited the busy Hendrik Potgieter Road and Jim Fouch intersection on Wednesday, 19 March 2025.
This is in the backdrop of the Department of Roads and Transport partnering with the JRA to fix dysfunctional and vandalized traffic lights within the City of Johannesburg. Hendrik Potgieter Drive is a major economic route in the western corridor of Gauteng, especially in and around the Krugersdorp area. 
JRA has been appointed to, amongst others, rebuild and maintain vandalised intersections including adding safety and secure components. These include installing strengthened controller boxes with electronic keys and straps, underground chambers, secure bollards around poles and CCTV cameras with built-in intelligent analytics. 
Commenting on destruction of critical road infrastructure, the MEC stressed that “vandalism and theft of infrastructure is a criminal act and punishable by law”. She added that “it is of outmost importance to show respect towards our road infrastructure, including traffic signals. These are essential in guaranteeing smooth traffic flow and supporting the economic and social life of our community”. 
The partnership is part of the Department’s #AdoptAndProtectARobot campaign to restore traffic lights and other road infrastructure across the province. 
Fast Facts: Hendrik Potgieter Road: 
- The route is also known as M47. 
- It begins at a 4-way-junction with N14 and the R28 north-east of Krugersdorp in Mogale City, adjacent to Cradlestone Mall (south-west of Muldersdrift). 
- It begins by going south-eastwards as Hendrick Potgieter Road to enter the city of Roodepoort. 
- The first suburb it passes through is Ruimsig, where it meets the M67 Road (Peter Road; Doreen Road). 
- It continues south-east, through Little Falls, to form an interchange with R564 Road (Christian de Wet Road) adjacent to Clearwater Mall in Strubens Valley. 
It then meets M86 Road (Jim Fouche Road) at the next junction, before meeting the M69 road west of Constantia Kloof. 
- It continues south-east to meet the M8 Road (14th Avenue) adjacent to the new location of the Roodepoort CBD near the Floracliffe suburb.