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The site is just four blocks from a Tshwane municipal office and is surrounded by three schools, at least two churches, a shopping centre and a hospital.
Roads in Lyttelton Manor, Centurion, have collapsed due to a sinkhole. Picture: Supplied
Some Tshwane residents could be excused for calling into work this morning and telling their boss they are in lockdown.
This is after a huge new sinkhole formed overnight on the corner of Burger Avenue and Langerbrink Road in Lyttleton Manor, Centurion.
WATCH: The scene of the sinkhole
WATCH: Sinkhole in Centurion causes water and power outage. 📹: Supplied.
— The Citizen News (@TheCitizen_News) May 9, 2025
Story in the comments pic.twitter.com/whYMt3cU0e
The site is just four blocks from a Tshwane municipal office and is surrounded by three schools, at least two churches, a shopping centre, and a hospital.
Sinkhole ‘unstable and still developing’
City spokesperson Lindela Mashigo told The Citizen that a 40m diameter and 3.5m deep sinkhole developed in the early hours of Friday
“The sinkhole is unstable and still developing. As a result, the intersection of Langebrink and Burger Streets is affected and closed off for thoroughfare.
“The city’s departments relevant to the nature of the situation are currently onsite conducting an analysis as well as to safeguard the roadway and the affected area. Residents in the affected area are advised to maintain a safe distance and exercise caution as well as to cooperate with the closures.
“Residents will be updated as soon as the assessment is completed and the findings are available.”
Centurion is reportedly grappling with more than 50 sinkholes at the moment.
Water and lights outage ahead?
To make matters worse, residents have been without water after the sinkhole broke the water pipes in the area and supply was shut.
“Due to the numerous water pipes, including bulk pipelines traversing the sinkhole, water supply has been temporarily shut down, affecting parts of Lyttelton Manor, Kloofsig and the industrial area of Lyttelton Manor Extension 6.
“The sinkhole will be further excavated to expose the extent of the sinkhole and the damages to the water pipe. The condition of the water pipes will then be assessed for further repairs and restoration of the water supply,” Mashigo added.
There were initial concerns that the lights could also go out if the transformer on the edge of the sinkhole fell, and residents confirmed at around 10 am that the lights had gone out.
Mashigo explained that a mini substation and electrical cables in the sinkhole area tripped, causing the Lyttleton Substation to trip and leave some parts of Lyttelton without power supply.
“Plans for repairs are currently underway.”
It is estimated that at least 25 households have been locked in, after a similar number were impacted by another sinkhole on the same street last year. The hole has yet to be fixed.
Wake up to a hole
A concerned resident, who agreed to speak anonymously, said the sinkhole formed around 2 am on Friday.
“One of the neighbours says they went to the loo around that time, and there was no water to flush or wash their hands.
“Then later, between 4 am and 5 am, a neighbour was driving out and saw the sinkhole. He told his neighbours, who in turn, alerted others.
“We drove our cars out of the street, to a safer area because, as it is, no cars can drive in and out as the sinkhole is right at the intersection,” he said.
“Water is gushing out from the sinkhole, and we do not have water in our homes.”
The resident said that while a section of the road has been closed off and there are flashing police lights to warn unsuspecting drivers, Langerbrink Road is one of the busiest streets in the area.
Resident Nikita Chetty called it a “catastrophe”.
“We can’t use basic necessities. It will affect work and travelling in and out of the area,” she told The Citizen.
WATCH: Chetty speaks about living in the area
WATCH: Resident Nikita Chetty says a sinkhole in Lyttleton Manor, Centurion, has caused a catastrophe in the area #TheCitizenNews pic.twitter.com/8bdc1W9MFy
— The Citizen News (@TheCitizen_News) May 9, 2025
Angelique Patrick said she was concerned about a long period without water and the chance that the hole may grow bigger.
“We don’t know much more [road] will fall and how dangerous it is. We don’t know if we should evacuate. Hopefully, the sinkhole won’t cave in anymore.”
No money to fix sinkholes?
The City of Tshwane has yet to comment on the recent sinkhole, but it has previously said that there is no budget to fix the municipality’s current sinkholes.
In January, Mashigo said that R14.5 million had been allocated during the current financial year to repair nine small and low-priority sinkholes. Two months later, Mashigo said no emergency funds had been allocated for sinkhole repairs.
“The long-term plan is to upgrade all the ageing wet services, especially water pipes, to dolomitic standards to minimise the occurrences of leaks and potential sinkhole formation,” he said.
Lyttleton’s battles with sinkholes
In February, two sinkholes formed in the area, one in the corner of Trichardt and Van Riebeeck Street and another on DF Malan Road.
Lyttleton Councillor Johan van Buuren said he had four sinkholes in his area: two old sinkholes and two that formed earlier this year.
“No further work has been done on any of the sinkholes,” he said.
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