Driveway sinkhole leaves homeowner stranded
The family is worried that the situation might get worse, and access remains a concern as the resident awaits action from the relevant authorities.
A sinkhole in the middle of a driveway on Pennyweight Avenue has forced residents to park on the street and raised serious concerns about road safety and municipal oversight.
The sinkhole formed on November 20, when a delivery van bringing Kyle O’Brien and his wife’s dogs home from daycare got stuck while leaving the driveway.
“It went in fine, but on the way out, it got stuck,” O’Brien explained. A tow truck had to be called to remove the vehicle. The hole now prevents the family from accessing their yard, and visible water is leaking through a junction near the sinkhole. Speaking to the Roodepoort Northsider, O’Brien described the damage as deep and spreading along both sides of the driveway.
• Also read: Hendrik Potgieter sinkhole repairs in progress
Standing in for Clr Zone Hughes while she is on maternity leave, ward councillor Devon Steenkamp said the sinkhole is a direct consequence of poor inspection and long-term neglect. Residents reported the damage immediately, but the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) reportedly did not conduct a thorough technical assessment when the incident was first logged.
“Johannesburg Water (JW) has since confirmed that the collapse was caused by a failed stormwater drainage pipe, which falls squarely under JRA’s responsibility,” Steenkamp said. He added that if proper inspections and routine maintenance had been carried out, the issue could have been identified and addressed before the road collapsed further.
“Residents are now forced to park outside, their safety is compromised, and avoidable damage has already occurred,” he said.
• Also read: Motorists warned as sinkhole develops on Hendrik Potgieter
“Infrastructure does not fail overnight; it collapses slowly through neglect. Preventive maintenance is cheaper, safer, and essential. The City cannot continue reacting only when disaster strikes,” Steenkamp said. He is calling on JRA to urgently repair the sinkhole, make the area safe, and explain why the initial complaint was not addressed.
Both JRA and JW were approached for comment on this issue, and as of publication, neither has provided a response despite being given a clear deadline.
