Millions needed to fix Tshwane sinkholes

It will cost the City of Tshwane millions of rands that it doesn’t have to fix roads across the city riddled with potholes and sinkholes that form overnight and are often left months or years unrepaired, says a city councillor.

DA ward 65 councillor Gert Visser said not only did Centurion have the most sinkholes, but new ones were forming every other month due to it being a dolomitic area.

Centurion potholes

Visser said since January Irene, within the Centurion region, had experienced the highest rainfall in 22 years. The rain resulted in more potholes.

“Residents’ reports were escalated and recently roads were repaired in Rooihuiskraal, Louwlardia, Highveld and Irene.

“These potholes could have been repaired in a shorter time period, but that did not happen as hot asphalt and bitumen were not in supply due to operational and procurement issues, which are unacceptable,” he said.

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At least R720 million needed

Visser said the most prominent sinkholes in Alexandria Road, Irene and John Vorster Avenue, Highveld would not be rehabilitated soon due to budget constraints.

“To rehabilitate all the sinkholes, in the City of Tshwane, being 60 to 70, will cost at least R720 million while the current budget is R14 million,” he said.

“The solution is public-private partnerships in the interim while parliament considers policy and a new legislation,” he said.

Repairs needed in Hammanskraal

Meanwhile, Apies Rivier Noord Gemeenskap Forum chair Johan Loots has also written to the City of Tshwane seeking help with the conditions of the roads in the Hammanskraal area.

Loots said among the problematic roads were Apies River Road, Coin Road, Tambotie Road and Juliet Street, and repairing them would help boost service delivery.

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