Valhalla family’s seven-year hole struggle continues
The family is worried the hole might expand now since it's raining season with the heavy rains in the area.
The Kalashnikova family continues to face the daunting reality of a large and unaddressed hole in front of their home on Godiva Road in Valhalla, with no communication from the metro since May.
The situation has grown increasingly frustrating for the family, who have grappled with the hole since 2017.
Back then, the metro had dug up the trench to repair a leaking sewer pipe, uncovering a cavity beneath two stormwater culverts.
The hole was labelled a sinkhole due to the area’s dolomitic rock foundation.
Despite their persistent efforts to seek updates, the family said their appeals have gone unanswered.
“Every week, my husband sends an email to the metro asking for an update, but we receive no feedback,” said Mariya Kalashnikova.
She said living with the hole since 2017 has been terrible, and it’s frustrating that nothing is being done regarding the matter.
Kalashnikova said she was worried that the hole might expand now since it’s the rainy season with heavy rains in the area.
“I am also worried that the tree in front of our gate might fall because of the wet ground, which will ruin our fence and driveway. The tree was previously bent with some of its roots coming out, so that had to be fixed before.”
She said when she drives down the driveway from her house, she needs to pay careful attention so that she doesn’t get into an accident because she can’t see the road due to the overgrown trees.
“There always has to be someone down the road who can tell me if there is a car coming because of the trees that have grown inside the hole abstracting the view.”
Mariya said that even though a fence has been built around the hole, the gate does not have a lock, which is concerning, “because anyone can get in and do something.”
She said the ward councillor in their area promised to organise a meeting for them so they get an explanation as to them why the hole is regarded as a sinkhole and what would be done regarding it.
“The meeting never happened, and we never received any information after that.”
Image: Supplied
She said the last time the metro came to look at the hole was after Rekord did an update on the matter in May, and since then no one has come back to check.
“A couple of months ago we were thinking of selling the house and moving somewhere else, but the value of the house has decreased and nobody wants to buy a house that has a large hole in front.”
Ward 66 councillor Ina Strijdom said there is currently no progress on any sinkholes being made in Centurion at the moment.
She said the metro had budgeted only R30-million for sinkholes, while there are 41 sinkholes.
Strijdom denied that she had planned any meeting concerning the hole.
Civil rights organisation AfriForum’s Centurion branch has been following the family’s case for three years but has also encountered roadblocks in their attempts to assist.
“AfriForum tried to help us close the hole last time, but the municipality denied them permission to do so,” Kalashnikova explained.
She said they also attempted to get people to close the whole thing, but they were also denied permission, as the hole is officially classified as a sinkhole.
Chairperson of the AfriForum Centurion branch, Andre de Bruyn, said nothing has been happening regarding this issue.
“I have tried my utmost best to keep the pressure on the city council, to no avail.”
De Bruyn said he has even escalated the matter to the Freedom Front Plus, but no solution has been opted for, other than there is no money for any sinkhole repairs.
“There is nothing we can do; we haven’t got the authority or the funds; they need to get a lawyer and sue the council,” he said.
He said in the last five years, they have tried to go and show the metro what happened at the hole.
“We even had a meeting with the city engineers and plenty of follow-up emails to the head of the department of infrastructure.”
De Bruyn said they have also cleaned the hole a few times in the past and cleared the site of overgrown trees and plants.
Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the Valhalla sinkhole incident is still at number 23 on the metro’s latest sinkhole incident priority listing.
He said the incident will remain on the listing until resources are available to repair the sinkhole.
“There are currently no updates on the filling of the cavity, however, further assessments will be conducted when the site has been cleared of the soil excavated out to access the sewer pipe.”
Mashigo said the metro is closely monitoring the adjacent area and roadway regularly to mitigate potential risks to nearby properties.
He added that the metro conducts regular and reactive maintenance operations in Valhalla to address infrastructure concerns.
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