Stephanus Schoeman sinkhole repairs have yet to start
“We are forced to use alternate routes to Laudium which are time consuming and some of them are in a state.”
A sinkhole, which has resulted in the complete closure of a Centurion road, continues to be a headache for residents in the area.
Stephanus Schoeman Road towards the R55 was completely closed in March last year, after several sinkholes formed as a result of heavy rainfall.
The road is often used by Valhalla residents as a thoroughfare to Laudium.
A local told Rekord this week that, despite previous reports that action would be taken, it seemed nothing was being done to rectify the situation.
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“The sinkhole and the road closure continue to be a problem for us as residents,” said local business owner Shereen Tayob.
“We are still forced to use alternate routes to Laudium which are time-consuming and some of them are in a state.”
“One road, in particular, nearby Voortrekker Road, is riddled with potholes. You literally drive like you are avoiding landmines when using the road.”
Another resident, Sameera Khan, said it appeared some people were illegally dumping rubbish at the road.
Khan, whose son goes to school in Erasmia, said a trip which would have been around ten minutes in the past now takes anything from 40 minutes to an hour.
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“It is really frustrating for us as residents,” she said.
“Over weekends when we want to go buy our Halaal groceries in Laudium it means we have to make multiple trips and it takes so much more time.”
The department of public works and infrastructure previously said it was attempting to find out to whom the road belongs.
“Repairing the sinkhole is a process and we need to know who owns the road before work can begin,” department spokesperson Thami Mchunu said.
Mchunu said the department was bringing together stakeholders to discuss the way forward.
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