WATCH: Sloppy sinkhole signage is an added headache for motorists

As if contending with the infuriating traffic jams caused by the Rondebult Road sinkholes is not enough, the lack of early warning and regulatory road signs leaves many motorists suddenly confronted with dangerous situations that can lead to serious injuries or death.

This is the situation drivers, particularly those who don’t know the area, face daily since the road was closed in February last year.
Boksburg Advertiser revisited the area this week and discovered the area indeed lacks adequate traffic warning signs about the diversion ahead.

During our visit, we noted at least 20 drivers were confronted with the dead-end and oncoming traffic flowing from Pretoria Road southbound to join Rondebult Road southbound.
This was after they unknowingly missed the turnoff onto Pretoria Road northbound and had to face the barricades at the sinkholes.
This leads to dangerous behaviours like cutting in on other cars, reversing towards oncoming traffic, driving up a one-way in the wrong direction or risking turning around to join Rondebult Road southbound to get about 500m away to the intersection of Comet and Rondebult roads.

Even the haphazard barricades are difficult to see before the diversion, as they are where the road slightly curves to the right with no obvious signage for anyone approaching.
There are no clear signs that the road to the left is a one-way, leaving drivers guessing what to do when they reach the dead-end.
Eye witness
A hawker selling her wares on the side of the road told the Advertiser she has seen an increase in accidents at the intersection since the road closure was implemented last year.
“I think the absence of warning signs confuses drivers and causes them to miss the detour,” the hawker said.

The current situation has also resulted in many motorists driving recklessly and breaking road rules.
Compounding the issue is a lack of EMPD pointsmen to alleviate congestion, despite many public outcries over this, particularly in peak-hour traffic.

No surprise
Ward 33 Clr Ashley Hoods said the city’s inability to ensure warning signs was no surprise.

“It is indicative of a metro in deep financial distress. The city’s first quarter report for 2024/25 indicated they had 11 days’ operating cash on hand as opposed to the 25 days’ regulatory requirement.
“This is a shocking performance by the ANC/EFF-led coalition government. They are only good at empty promises and photo opportunities.
“We will keep the speaker to her promises to get all role players involved to attend to the sinkhole and the roads depot and EMPD to do more about road signs and policing.”
Blue lie
Ward 32 Clr Marius de Vos echoed his counterpart’s sentiments, adding installing visible warning signs at ideal distances and policing the area is the way to go if the city is serious about protecting and saving lives.
He recently posed questions to the MMC for Roads and Transport’s office about public safety near the sinkholes, but believes the reply is a ‘blue lie’.

“The MMC is on record, saying they posted EMPD officers to the affected intersection during peak hours.
“However, we hardly see pointsmen in the area and road users are left at the mercy of criminals and damage to their vehicles in accidents that could be prevented should EMPD be there to control the traffic.
“I am disappointed in the political grandstanding of the executive of Ekurhuleni council when engaging the media on the Rondebult Road sinkholes.
“This prolonged response to fixing the sinkholes has caused untold frustration to ordinary road users and businesses.”

Here are some of the questions of De Vos and MMC’s response to:
What contingency plans are in place in case of further delays or complications?
The current contingency plans, by diverting the traffic away from the sinkhole, appear to be working satisfactorily. The EMPD can improve it by placing pointsmen during peak traffic hours if required.
What measures are being taken to ensure public safety while the road is closed/restricted?
The role the EMPD played in traffic control during peak hours. We deploy pointsmen to do traffic control at the intersections of Comet and Main Reef and Pretoria roads.
Policing

Regarding the traffic problem and safety issues, Ekurhuleni’s council speaker Nthabiseng Tshivhenga, said during an oversight visit to the sinkholes, the city had previously cordoned off the area, but “There are people who remove the barricades, probably in the evening.”

She said her office requested the EMPD to guard the signage and assist with traffic flow.
“We are also going to request that we are assisted in cordoning off the entire area to keep pedestrians out, lest someone fall into a sinkhole and can cause litigation for the city.”

Also Read: WATCH: Ekurhuleni metro can’t afford to fix sinkhole-ravaged Rondebult Road