How Discovery Insure is helping change lives - one pothole at a time

Discovery Insure believes in being a force for good, underpinned by shared value. That's why we're all about offering value to our clients and communities. It's also why we believe in making positive change in any way we can.

One of the ways we're turning this belief into a reality is through the Pothole Patrol, an initiative that helps identify and repair potholes on major roads throughout Johannesburg. In partnership with Avis Southern Africa, Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), and the City of Johannesburg, Pothole Patrol has fixed over 210,000 potholes since its inception in 2021. The initiative's initial target was to repair 1,000 potholes a week - but this rate has exceeded by more than 50%.

How does the Discovery Pothole Patrol work?

We're immensely proud of what this initiative has achieved so far - and we're even more proud that the Pothole Patrol is now an enabler of real-world skills development.

Using geolocation, the Discovery Pothole Patrol app allows users to log and report potholes within JRA's jurisdiction which encompasses the Johannesburg metro.

Once a pothole is reported, an inspector is sent out to determine the size and depth of the pothole. A repair team is then allocated to the repair and to fix the pothole. If the pothole was reported through the app, the user will receive feedback that the pothole was repaired.

A life-changing experience with the Pothole Patrol Academy

We're immensely proud of what this initiative has achieved so far - and we're even more proud that the Pothole Patrol is now an enabler of real-world skills development.

On 1 February 2024, the Discovery Pothole Patrol formalised an academy to create jobs and drive sustainable change. The formation of the Academy is the result of a 2023 pilot programme that successfully trained 18 learners to repair potholes; the Academy is now accredited by the Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority (INSETA) to offer a 12-month practical skills training programme providing an NQF Level 3 qualification.

For its first official year, the Academy is set to provide classroom and on-the-job training to 24 learners through EduWize, an accredited learnership and skills development provider. Participants are young people aged 22 to 34 from previously disadvantaged communities who will obtain a National Certificate in Roadworks Construction upon completion.

The programme takes the Pothole Patrol's positive impact one step further, as it equips them with road construction skills and the ability to contribute to the economy.

As an insurer, we want to make our roads safer - for insured and uninsured road users alike, and one pothole repair at a time. Discovery Insure always aims to add real value to people's lives; enabling safer and pothole-free roads is one way of doing that.

To report a pothole in Johannesburg, simply download the free Discovery Pothole Patrol mobile app (available for iOS and Android), register, and then upload a picture or capture your location.