Rondebult sinkhole saga takes a new direction
Authorities are said to have finally broken the about seven months long stalemate over whose job is it to fix the road, after the hole opened up.
While the metro has not officially responded to a request from Boksburg Advertiser for an update on the process to repair the Rondebult sinkhole, we have subsequently learned that the city has apparently reached a decision to take matters into its own hands.
With no commencement of construction works and completion date in sight, it remains to be seen how much longer this process will take, and where the metro will source the funds for the already-delayed repairs.
According to reliable sources within the municipality, while the metro has decided to fix the road, the move has sparked debate on the financial upheaval it will possibly bring to the city’s purse.
Unconfirmed information suggests that after the resolution was made, a proposal was put forward that a meeting of all the relevant departments (including finance, city planning and roads) be convened to explore and develop a working funding mechanism for the project.
The plan to repair the road was reportedly also the subject of discussion at the latest city planning oversight committee meeting, earlier this month.
Boksburg Advertiser requested comment from the metro on the above on August 21 and 23, but no response had been received at the time of publication.
Delayed
Early in February, a sinkhole opened up in the northbound hard shoulder of Rondebult Road in Comet, prompting authorities to completely close this section of the road as a precautionary measure.
The closure has proved to be a nightmare for the heavy traffic it carries each day.
The delay in repairing the road had been attributed to a back-and-forth discussion between the metro and the Council for Geoscience (CGS) on who should take the responsibility between the municipality and the provincial Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE).
The metro had referred the matter to the CGS for further investigations because it believed the sinkhole might have been the result of mining activities in the area; so DMRE is responsible for such cases.
However, the CGS shipped the matter back to the metro, saying it is the city’s responsibility to do the repairs.
‘Confirmed’
Boksburg Advertiser recently reported that the Council for Geoscience (CGS) had early this month (August) sent out its team to examine in detail the possible cause of the sinkhole.
While the metro has not shared the council’s findings on the matter, the area’s ward councillor Marius De Vos issued a statement, saying it’s been subsequently confirmed that indeed the municipality is responsible.
“However, no funds have been allocated. This means that the road will remain closed even longer, frustrating residents and road users,” said de Vos in a statement.
“The DA in the city stands with the residents of Comet as the frustrations mount over the lack of action regarding rehabilitating the area and repairing the sinkhole in Rondebult Road.
“The DA can reveal that the EFF/ANC-led coalition in Ekurhuleni has committed no budget to repair the sinkhole which has grown to over 10m in circumference, and residents fear that their homes are in danger of collapsing into the sinkhole.
“This complete lack of urgency to repair the road, coupled with the unwillingness to address the community’s concerns, highlights the coalition government’s failure. As the DA, we have asked numerous questions to the council and continue to escalate this matter. Residents deserve better!”
