A warning sign erected by the Democratic Alliance (DA) on a bridge over the M1 in Johannesburg has drawn attention to the deteriorating condition of the city’s road infrastructure.

The sign, which reads “WARNING: This Bridge is Not Safe”, was put up by the party on Friday to highlight what it describes as a serious maintenance backlog affecting Johannesburg’s motorway bridges.

Image via X.

Image via X.

The DA says 78% of the city’s bridges are classified by the City of Johannesburg itself as being in either “very poor” or “poor” condition.

The DA has raised questions about a R25 million tender awarded by the city to a Limpopo-based company owned by a 34-year-old man. It says the company, which describes itself as a general trading business capable of handling work ranging from water leaks to electrical faults, has been deregistered three times.

The party said procurement practices such as this were contributing to Johannesburg’s infrastructure and maintenance problems.

DA mayoral candidate for Johannesburg, Helen Zille, has made the City’s decaying infrastructure a central element of her campaign, and has previously visited bridges that have been damaged by excavations carried out by illegal miners and vandals. She told the media that the party was performing a public service in displaying the sign.

Addressing the city’s infrastructure backlogs would require changes to municipal procurement and maintenance, and the party has pledged to target what it described as “dodgy deals” if it takes control of the city.

Zille said that in the meantime, the DA would “play open cards” with the residents of Johannesburg about the state of their infrastructure and the risks it poses to their safety.