Efforts to tackle Centurion’s long-standing sinkhole problems are progressing steadily, with two of the nine low-priority sites identified earlier this year now repaired.

One of the latest milestones is the reopening of the Laudium Soccer Grounds, where a sinkhole that first appeared in 2019 has officially been rehabilitated by the Tshwane metro.

The municipality confirmed that the facility has been restored and handed back to the community after months of technical work.

MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, Kholofelo Morodi, said the sinkhole had disrupted the lives of residents, sports teams, and local organisations for far too long.

“As the city, we recognise the disruption this has caused to the Laudium community and sporting fraternity over the years, and we extend our heartfelt gratitude for the patience and understanding shown throughout this process.”

She added that despite ongoing financial constraints, the metro remained committed to restoring the site’s safety and public value.

According to Morodi, the rehabilitation project began in May this year and was completed at a cost of R3.2-million, R300 000 less than the original estimate.

“This achievement demonstrates that even under challenging circumstances, we are determined to deliver solutions that protect lives and preserve community spaces,” she said.

She explained that engineers had taken particular care to secure electrical cables, stabilise the soil, reinstate pitch fencing, and restore irrigation systems so that the field could once again serve the community as a place of recreation and unity.

Morodi emphasised that the metro remains committed to addressing the wider sinkhole crisis across Centurion with transparency and accountability.

She noted that every completed site brings the city closer to restoring safety and resilience in its neighbourhoods.

“We look forward to officially handing back the rehabilitated soccer grounds to the Laudium community, confident that it will once again be a space of joy. The city remains committed to ensuring that every city property remains beneficial to residents.”

Ward 61 councillor Naeem Patel also welcomed the completion of the project.

Speaking in a video shared on X during a site visit, Patel said there were about 14 sinkholes in the area, warning that the situation required more support than the metro could provide on its own.

https://x.com/kholofeloMorodi/status/1998374640247603214?s=20

We are committed to working with our residents to ensure a safe environment for everyone.

However, to achieve this, we need to join hands with the national government to repair the many other sinkholes across our city.@CityTshwane https://t.co/1eC9ybDxv0 pic.twitter.com/HjMKAatU0X

— Kholofelo Morodi (@kholofeloMorodi) December 9, 2025

“We urge the national government to declare Centurion a disaster area and prioritise funding for sinkholes,” he said.

He stated that this particular repair was relatively affordable compared to the much larger and more severe sinkholes still plaguing Erasmia and Laudium, which he estimated would cost considerably more to fix.

Patel said the MMC had informed him that three more sinkholes in the area would be repaired from February next year, with the metro aiming to complete those by June or July.

He added that local officials remain committed to ensuring a safe environment for residents but emphasised that national government support is essential for tackling the remaining high-risk sites in Region 4.

The progress at the Laudium Soccer Grounds follows earlier milestones in the city’s rehabilitation programme, including the reopening of Amkor Road in Centurion in August after being closed for more than three years because of a major sinkhole.

That sinkhole, which appeared in April 2022, was triggered by an underground water leak that destabilised the entire width of the road.

At the time, Morodi said the cavity was initially measured at roughly 12m long, 5m wide, and 18m deep.

For safety reasons, the metro immediately shut the road and diverted the leaking pipe.

“The closure affected residents and motorists for years, with some homeowners forced to relocate their gates and driveways, and daily travel routes severely disrupted,” she said.

Morodi said geological investigations were completed in August 2023, but construction officially only began in May this year.

Once work began, engineers discovered the sinkhole had expanded significantly beyond earlier estimates in both size and cost.

She explained that the city employed a range of engineering solutions to stabilise the area.

“Imported rock boulders were used to stabilise the sinkhole up to 2m below ground level, followed by layers of high-slump concrete to fill cavities and strengthen the structural foundation. Boreholes around the site were also grouted to help prevent future subsidence,” she added.

She said the site was then backfilled with compacted soil, in line with engineering standards.

“The city took a methodical, safety-first approach to the repairs,” added Morodi. She thanked the community for its patience and co-operation throughout the long process.

The metro’s current progress also aligns with the commitments it outlined earlier in the year.

In January, the metro confirmed to Rekord that it had allocated more than R14-million to address sinkhole-related issues across Centurion.

Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said at the time that the city planned to use the R14.5-million budget to repair nine small and low-priority sinkholes during the financial year.

Mashigo said the list included sites such as the Laudium Soccer Grounds, Amkor Road in Lyttelton Manor, and Hugo Road in Valhalla.

Other locations included South Street in Die Hoewes, Johan Strauss in Christoburg, and several streets in Erasmia and Lyttelton Manor.

He explained that while the budget would be divided among all nine sites, repair costs varied significantly based on size and severity.

“Some may require less than R1-million, while others could exceed R30-million.”

Mashigo added that several safety and risk factors determined which sinkholes were repaired first and confirmed that the metro would be working alongside external contractors and technical experts.

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