Authorities have yet to establish a timeline or plans for when the sinkholes next to the R500 will be fixed. A section of the R500 between Carletonville and the N14 was closed on December 8.

This followed the further collapse after a sinkhole near the Goudvlakte turn-off, which began spilling onto the road surface. The Gauteng Roads Department and the Merafong City Local Municipality helped to build a bypass around the sinkhole on the opposite side of the road to keep traffic moving.

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Although there is only one sinkhole that caved onto the R500, it is part of a larger cluster of sinkholes that is likely to collapse into one massive sinkhole eventually.

Two other sinkholes that form part of this same cluster are also very close to the road surface. By January 19, the area around the sinkholes was still neatly cordoned off, and there was no possibility that vehicles could use this section of the road.

These two other sinkholes that form part of the same cluster as the sinkhole that forced the road to be closed are also very close to the R500’s road surface.The alternative gravel by-pass around the sinkhole is, however, already getting bumpy due to the rain and heavy traffic flow.

Many trucks also use this road, which places further strain on it. Residents of the area have made authorities aware of water damming up at this spot for years, but they have not done anything. They also did not take action when sinkholes first started to appear next to the road around April last year.

Meanwhile, there is also another sinkhole a few metres from the road, closer to the N14.

This sinkhole is about 11 kilometers out of Carletonville and caved in at a maize field. The Herald contacted the Regional Manager of the Gauteng Roads Department in the Krugersdorp region about when the sinkholes will be fixed on Monday. She, however, did not respond by printing time.