Germiston residents at risk as neglected sinkholes swallow roads
Residents of Dewittrus, Germiston, face serious dangers as neglected sinkholes swallow roads. Ward 37 Councillor Ivan Naidoo blames the ANC-EFF-ActionSA coalition for ignoring urgent infrastructure repairs, leaving motorists and the community exposed to life-threatening conditions.
The city’s infrastructure is crumbling, and the residents are paying the price.
This is according to Ward 37 Clr Ivan Naidoo, who blamed the decay on the negligence of the ANC-EFF-ActionSA coalition.
He said once again, the residents and motorists are at serious risk in Dewittrus, Germiston.
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“What began as a small sinkhole on Doreen Street 18 months ago has now grown so large that it has swallowed the road completely, making it unusable for traffic.”
Despite repeated warnings and escalations from the councillor, the city’s Roads and Transport Planning Department has failed to intervene.
Naidoon said the resident has taken matters into their own hands and tried to make the road usable.
“In desperation, residents have attempted to fill the sinkhole themselves using rubble and old tyres. However, like the ongoing crisis on Rondebult Road in Boksburg, it is only a matter of time before this road caves in further and transforms into a life-threatening crater,” shares Naidoo.
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He said he has raised this issue on countless occasions, but the administration has ignored urgent calls to act. Instead of safeguarding residents, the city’s inaction has created a secondary crisis.
He said the sinkhole area has become a crime hotspot, with unsuspecting motorists falling victim as they attempt to navigate the unsafe stretch of road.
“This failed coalition clearly does not have the interests of residents at heart. If it did, Doreen Street would have been rehabilitated months ago,” he said.
Naidoo said the party will pose formal questions to the MMC for Roads and Transport Planning, Andile Mngwevu, demanding clear timelines for when the road rehabilitation will begin.
“Taxpayers are footing the bill for a city that continues to ignore urgent service delivery issues, allowing infrastructure to collapse while exposing communities to unnecessary risks. We vowed to continue holding this coalition to account until proper action is taken,” said Naidoo.
Germiston City News sent an inquiry to the city on September 10, but at the time of going to print, no response was received.
