TarTheRoad

Terms

In effect from 15 October 2026. See also our Privacy notice.

Who you are dealing with

TarTheRoad is run by Warren Kaplan, Johannesburg. Questions or complaints go to warren@kaplan.co.za. By reporting a pothole, pledging or paying through this site you agree to these terms.

What we do

You send us a photo of a pothole. We look at it, get a price from an independent repair contractor and send you a quote. The quoted price includes our fee for arranging the job. If you pay, we book the contractor and let you know the date.

Where we can help

We can only take on potholes in wards that have a Democratic Alliance (DA) ward councillor. If yours is in another ward we will tell you, and we cannot assist with it. Not sure which ward you are in? Send the report anyway and we will check before quoting.

Reporting a pothole

  • Only take a photo where it is safe to stand. Never stop in a live traffic lane to report a pothole.
  • The photo must be yours, and of a real pothole. We may decline any report.
  • The photo, the street and the size go on a page anyone with the link can see. Your phone number and email never do.

Pledges

A pledge is a promise, not a payment. No money is taken and nothing is owed when you pledge. We may contact you if the full amount is raised and the repair goes ahead, and you can say no at that point.

Paying

  • Paying the quote is how you accept it. The price is the one shown on the page when you pay.
  • Payments are processed by Paystack. We never see your card details. Your bank statement may show QuotingHub, the business whose Paystack account takes the payment.
  • If we cannot carry out the repair after you have paid, for example because the road authority will not allow it, we refund you in full.

The repair

  • The work is done by REPAIR Cold Asphalt (repairroads.com), an independent contractor that supplies the cold asphalt and does the labour. It is not done by TarTheRoad staff.
  • It is a patch repair of one pothole. It is not a resurfacing of the road, and it does not fix whatever is under the road (for example a burst pipe or bad drainage) that caused the hole.
  • Rain, standing water and access to the site can move the date. If the hole is full of water, that has to be dealt with first and we will talk to you about it.
  • If the work is not done properly, tell us and we will put it right or refund you, as the Consumer Protection Act requires.

Public roads

The road stays the property and responsibility of the municipality or road authority. Paying for a repair through TarTheRoad does not make you responsible for the road, and it does not take away any claim you have against the authority, for example for damage to your car caused by the pothole.

Our liability — please read this

We are not responsible for loss or damage caused by the condition of the road, by other potholes, by traffic, or by the road failing again after the repair for reasons outside the work we arranged.

We are not responsible for indirect losses such as lost income, missed appointments or towing. Where we are responsible, the most we will pay is the amount you paid us for that repair.

None of this limits liability that the law does not allow us to limit, including liability for our gross negligence or under the Consumer Protection Act.

Changes

We may update these terms. The date at the top shows the current version, and any payment is covered by the version that was in effect when you paid. These terms are governed by South African law.