The sinkhole on the R563/ Hekpoort Road has been a major headache for residents and motorists in recent months.

Despite several oversights conducted by public stakeholders and residents, the issue remains unresolved, and it was only recently that the Department of Roads and Transport announced plans to address it.

Resident speaks out

According to Deon van Heerden, the problem has frustrated locals for over nine months despite repeated calls for action. He lives in Weaver’s Roost, just a few kilometres from the sinkhole and has been travelling this road for over two years. Since January, there have been problems with the road due to a lack of maintenance, leading to the formation in February.

“More than 30 residents in Weaver’s Roost travel this route daily. It was lackadaisically handled by the Gauteng Roads and Transport Department, which simply rerouted on the left road shoulder, and left as a gravel bypass, which in turn has been mostly unattended and is in shocking condition, seriously threatening vehicle owners and damaging vehicles,” Van Heerden said.

• Also read: R563 to Hekpoort to close for 11 days for sinkhole tests

Crashes highlight urgency and calls for accountability

During a recent oversight conducted by the DA, it was revealed that there have been 10 crashes as a result of the sinkhole, and the situation will worsen if not urgently addressed.

According to the DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Roads and Logistics, Evert du Plessis, while sinkholes are complex to manage, it is unacceptable that it has taken over eight months to get geo-specialists on the ground to assess the situation and implement recommended remedial actions at the R563.

He added that the department’s failure to repair the Zwartkops R374 road, also devastated by a sinkhole in March, is equally concerning.

“The poor state of these roads not only affects residents but is also driving businesses away and costing jobs. We will be tabling further questions demanding clear answers on why the deadline for repairs to the R563 was missed, and why rehabilitation efforts continue to fail despite the department receiving an additional adjustment budget of R314.9 million. We will also demand that the department provide a firm deadline for the repair of the Zwartkops R374 road,” Evert said.

Stakeholders discuss solutions

At a recent Sinkhole Roundtable conference held at Silverstar, various stakeholders and community organisations discussed measures required to tackle the issue of sinkholes, their effects and the impact on residents in the West Rand.

Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development MEC Jacob Mamabolo confirmed that over 5 000 sinkholes have been identified in the province, with the majority in the West Rand.

He said this is largely due to mining activity combined with poor water services maintenance, including burst pipes and leaks that have worsened infrastructure conditions in the region.

Need for municipal action

Mamabolo added that municipalities must control water losses, manage permissible land use, and improve infrastructure.

Resident and head of Merafong Environmental Risks, Jeremiah Ramagodi, said that areas with poor service delivery and low-income communities are often the most affected.

“Our organisation conducts regular oversights in Merafong and surrounding areas, and we always conclude that the mining sector and local municipalities must work together to resolve this issue. Apart from road safety, we also need to consider the environment and sanitation, as water loss leaves many areas polluted,” he said.

Despite this, it was confirmed by Mogale City that the road in question is a provincial road and it can only be repaired by the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport. According to the department’s spokesperson, King Mthombeni, the road would be closed until October 21, and the department will be engaging with geological experts and Mogale City to resolve the matter.

Dr Elias Sithole, head of the National Disaster Management Centre in Merafong, has confirmed the municipality is highlighting the severe risk sinkholes pose to residents, property, infrastructure, and basic services in high-risk zones identified by the Council for Geoscience and will be implementing plans to resolve the matter, especially in poor regions.