More than three years after massive sinkholes appeared along the stretch of Rondebult Road in Comet, which is one of the city’s key commuter and freight corridors, the metro is still finalising a report that will determine how the road should be repaired and what the cost will be.

Despite the prolonged closure of the route and repeated public assurances, the city’s explanation remains unchanged: ‘there is no funding available, and a comprehensive geotechnical and engineering report is still being compiled to support attempts to secure money from provincial and national government’.

The sinkholes, which first appeared in February 2023, forced a full road closure and detours that continue to disrupt thousands of daily commuters and local businesses in terms of goods and workforce transportation.

Also Read: VIDEO: Process to fix Rondebult Road sinkhole dragging on

Speaking to the Boksburg Advertiser recently, MMC for Transport Andile Mngwevu said the long-awaited report will outline feasible repair options, timelines, and the budget required to stabilise the geologically unstable area and restore the road.
“Once completed, the document will form the cornerstone of the city’s applications for external funding, whether from government or private partners,” said Mngwevu.

The MMC confirmed that one of the possible solutions under consideration is a bridge-style roadway over the unstable ground. However, this option is estimated to cost around R150m, which is well beyond what the municipality says it can afford.

“If I take that money and use it for the sinkholes, I will not be able to patch potholes, resurface roads, or put up traffic signs,” Mngwevu said.

“We have established a team led by the city manager’s office to identify other means of resolving the problem. Our planning department is conducting a study on the most viable solutions and associated costs. Once that report is finalised, we can approach the provincial or national Departments of Transport, or private partners with a tangible plan of what is actually required.”

Dragging feet
Opposition councillors have accused the city of dragging its feet, arguing that three years is far too long to produce a feasibility report on an issue with such major economic impact.
Residents, including community groups, have echoed the criticism, saying the slow progress reflects a wider trend of delayed maintenance and poor service delivery by the municipality.
However, the city maintains that the forthcoming report will chart a clear way forward, provided other spheres of government agree to fund the costly remediation work.

Frustration, delays and daily disruptions
The Advertiser asked residents on social media how the prolonged delay to fix Rondebult Road has affected their work, businesses, and daily commutes.
Here is a selection of their responses:

Amori Barnard Thompson: We have to get creative to get to work. We take this road and then that road, tomorrow it’s that road and then another road. It’s such a mission and completely disruptive.

Ivonne En Henk Erasmus: It’s horrible. A trip that used to take me 20 minutes now takes 50 minutes or more.
Liza van der Merwe: This is a nightmare. It takes you three times longer to use the back roads, which are also very congested and used by a lot of trucks.
Liesel van Jaarsveld: Driving on that road to Kempton Park every day, you need to add at least 40 minutes to your travelling time during peak hours, and it’s exhausting.
Craig Manthe: Thank goodness I changed my son’s school and don’t drive that way anymore
Schalk Swart: It’s an absolute mess. And the alternative routes were not meant to carry so many trucks. They are also going to collapse.
Linda Blignaut: Very frustrating in peak hours, and no EMPD officers to control traffic during power outages.

Bradleigh Skopas McGregor: Do you know how many people have been robbed in the traffic with smash and grabs or how many accidents have happened there because of the poor signage and poorly placed barriers? Ask me. I know of at least three accidents a week.
Nini Andriani: What should be 15-minute trips are now 45 minutes.

David Basil Francis: Used to take me 20 minutes to get to work in the morning, now it takes an hour.
Corina de Beer: This is a disgrace. Mothers and fathers get home late. Sitting in that traffic drains fuel and causes wear and tear on the car. Big problem
Teboho Patrick: It affects us as a community of Comet as the crime level is too high now, and criminals rob people, kill them and throw them in that hole

Frik de Witt: It has added so many kilometres and so much time to everyday trips. It sucks!
Janetta Reid: We are late every day due to this sinkhole, and traffic is very bad. A lot of accidents are happening because of this.
Karen Ackerman: It’s a nightmare to get to work and back every day with the sinkhole and people disobeying traffic rules.

Also Read: WATCH: Immediate action demanded over Rondebult sinkhole