Six months ago, the Tshwane Metro encountered delays in repairing seven out of nine low-priority sinkholes in Centurion, which were initially earmarked for repairs during the 2024/25 financial year.
These delays were attributed to procurement challenges and prolonged rainy weather. However, the municipality has made significant progress since then, fully repairing five of the sinkholes, with only two still incompleted.
The latest update from the metro confirms that repairs have been completed at the following locations: South Street in Die Hoewes, Cradock Avenue in Lyttelton Manor, Hugo Road in Valhalla, and Verster and Aletta Streets in Erasmia.
However, repairs on the sinkholes on Johann Strauss Street in Christoburg and Van Riebeeck Avenue in Lyttelton Manor remain incomplete.
Tshwane Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo explained that the two remaining projects have stalled due to difficulties in accessing the affected properties.
“Both are still incomplete, as the owners of the respective properties could not be located to grant access for repairs. The city is exploring all avenues to trace the owners so that work can commence immediately thereafter,” he said.
Mashigo added that the inability to locate property owners has become an additional cause of delays, alongside previously cited challenges such as procurement issues and persistent rainy weather conditions.
He confirmed that while the original budget for the programme was R14.5-million, the allocation was adjusted down to R10.2-million. Of this, R7.5-million has already been spent.
Mashigo assured residents that the remaining funds are sufficient to complete the programme, emphasising that the delays are due to property access issues, rather than budget constraints.
Looking ahead, the metro has added new sinkholes to its intervention programme. These include sinkholes on Godiva Road in Valhalla, Jade Avenue and Saffier Road in Lyttelton, and Longdown Road in Cornwall Hill.
“All these additional sites are scheduled for repairs during the current financial year. Furthermore, the metro has allocated R15.3-million for sinkhole remediation in Region 4 for the 2026/27 financial year.”
Despite the additional sites, Mashigo stressed that the municipality’s approach to prioritising repairs remains unchanged.
“Sinkholes continue to be prioritised based on the level of risk they pose to public safety, their impact on infrastructure and service delivery, geotechnical assessments, and the availability of funding,” he said.
The latest update shows significant progress since January, when only two of the nine low-priority sinkholes identified for repair during which the 2024/25 financial year had been completed.
The municipality had previously assured residents in January 2025 that all repairs would be completed within that period.
By January 2026, only the sinkholes at the Laudium soccer grounds and on Amkor Road in Lyttelton Manor had been fully repaired and reopened to the public.
Repair work at both sites began in May 2025, with Amkor Road reopening to traffic in August and the Laudium soccer grounds fully restored by December.
Mashigo previously noted that progress on the remaining sites had been slower than anticipated. Earlier this year, the South Street sinkhole in Die Hoewes was about 90% complete, while the Cradock Avenue sinkhole in Lyttelton Manor was around 65% complete.
He also explained that repair costs vary significantly from one site to another due to differences in size, depth, and complexity.
While the metro has made progress in repairing several sinkholes since then, residents living near those that remain incomplete continue to face uncertainty.
Albert van Wyk, a resident near the sinkhole at the corner of Burger Avenue and Langebrink Road in Lyttelton, said the presence of multiple sinkholes in the area affects residents’ sense of safety and peace of mind.
“Although the sinkhole has been fenced off, its presence remains a constant concern for those living nearby,” he said.
“The fencing certainly helps, but it does not remove the concern. Every day you drive or walk past it, you are reminded that it is still there and that it still poses a risk.”
Van Wyk also expressed concerns about the long-term impact of sinkholes on property values.
“People invest their life savings into their homes, so naturally there is concern about what these sinkholes mean for property values. Prospective buyers become hesitant when they hear about sinkholes in the area, and that affects homeowners who may want to sell in the future,” he added.
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