Potholes in Potchefstroom become an unnecessary expense for students
The potholes that plague Potchefstroom’s roads are making a dent in students’ pockets.
Potholes can damage tyres, rims, suspension shocks and even wheel bearings, according to Michelle Segalla, a media representative from Supa Quick Potchefstroom.
They are currently facing an influx of work due to potholes, Segalla said. Approximately 30% of their customers with pothole-related damages are students.
”Best-case scenario, you can get away with just balancing and alignment, which isn’t a massive expense. Worse, you need to replace the tyre as well. Worse still, you need to repair suspension parts. This is very expensive. Costs can add up quickly,” Segalla said.
Many North-West University (NWU) Potchefstroom students have raked up expenses by hitting potholes.
Christelle Havenga (18), first-year information technology and mathematics student, said she tries to avoid potholes as much as possible. However, this did not prevent her from falling victim to a pothole incident when she got a flat tyre on her way to campus.
The incident led to the replacement of the tyre, which was quite costly, according to Havenga. “It’s impossible to say exactly, but I suspect many potholes contributed significantly to the tyre’s original and later problems,” said Havenga.
She added, “luckily, I have not experienced any problems since the replacement of the tyre, but I still work really hard to avoid all potholes, even if they are relatively small.”
Potholes in front of campus entrances is a hazard to pedestrians and vehicles as motorists have to to avoid both. PHOTO: Elsje-Marié Jordaan 
Potholes have become a normal phenomenon in Potchefstroom. PHOTO: Elsje-Marié Jordaan 
Simply filling potholes with ground, results in larger potholes after heavy rain.
Ruth Pretorius (21), a forensic accounting honours student, said she didn’t lose a tyre but lost her wheel cap instead and has not been able to replace it yet. “A new one will cost me R700,” Pretorius said.
“Many students complain about potholes and the possibility of damage to their vehicles,” Pretorius said, adding that the upkeep of municipal roads would have prevented students like her from raking up pothole-related expenses.
Segalla said that wheel alignment or improperly inflated tyres might cause a marginal increase in fuel consumption. However, using alternative roads to avoid damaged ones may also lead to higher fuel consumption.
“Unfortunately, the only thing you can do is to avoid potholes. If not possible, drive through them very slowly, but don’t brake or accelerate while the tyre is in the pothole,” Segalla suggests.
Potholes should be fixed “correctly” by attending to them soon and not simply filling them with dirt that will go away and leave a bigger hole once it rains again, Pretorius added.
“I know there are limitations in terms of resources, but it’s the municipality’s responsibility to tend to something that has gained this amount of attention,” Pretorius concluded.