One of the refuse removal trucks drove into the cul-de-sac in Umkumaas Street in Carletonville at approximately 11:40. The munici-pality cordoned this area off due to a small sinkhole on the road surface over a month ago. Since then, however, the heap of ground preventing motorists from entering has been partially pushed to the side.
The truck driver, visibly shaken after the incident, did not see the sinkhole and drove over it. The subsidence caved in further, and two of the truck’s wheels got stuck.
The only worker on the back of the truck at the time, Mr Mxolisi Radebe, gestured that he felt the truck shake under him. It was only when he got off that he realised what had happened. Luckily, no one was injured.
The municipality organised a crane to get the truck out of the sinkhole and refuse removal proceeded again the same afternoon. The municipal roads department cordoned off the cul-de-sac completely later that afternoon.
The sinkhole occurred next to an open veld where many houses were previously demolished due to ground stability problems. So many structures have gone that even Google Maps cannot identify the area. Although most residents know it as Caledon Street, the only part of Caledon Street that officially exists on maps is on the other side of Coronation Street. The place where the current sinkhole is is reflected as part of Umkumaas Street.
On Wednesday, the municipality’s spokesperson said the truck would still have to be assessed to deter- mine the damage.
“Engagements are still being entered into with the mines to assist in this regard,” she says.
The Herald also asked the municipality about the safety of the houses in this area.
“The geotechnical study of the entire neighbourhood has not been done yet, due to budgetary limitations,” the spokesperson said.