The Problem
Potholes are a widespread infrastructure failure across African roads, contributing to vehicle damage and road accidents. In some countries the number reaches into the tens of millions, with South Africa alone estimated to have over 25 million potholes on paved roads.
Once a pothole forms, deterioration accelerates rapidly. Rainwater penetrates the road base, heavy vehicles weaken the surface, and cracks expand quickly, allowing small defects to become dangerous potholes within weeks. Poor road conditions are linked to around 15 percent of road crashes in parts of Africa.
The human cost is severe. Africa has the highest road traffic fatality rate globally and accounts for around 20 percent of worldwide road deaths despite having only 3 percent of the world’s vehicles. An estimated 650 people die every day in road traffic crashes across the continent.
