Parkmore sinkhole crisis finally sees action after long-awaited joint inspection
Johannesburg Roads Agency and Johannesburg Water met on site to determine the cause of the ongoing water flow and sinkholes, with residents demanding swift action after years of inaction.
A long-delayed joint inspection between Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) and Johannesburg Water (JW) finally took place on the morning of April 9 in Parkmore, bringing renewed hope to residents who have battled ongoing water-related damage and sinkholes for years.
The site visit held at key problem areas, including 4th, 5th and 6th streets and Victoria Avenue, brought together officials from both entities, Ward 90 councillor Renate van Onselen and Parkmore Community Association manager and Ward 90 committee member Lori Klein.
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Johannesburg Roads Agency acting head of regional operations, Mpho Maruping, said following several assessments of the site on the corner of 4th Street and Victoria Avenue last year, JRA jetted all the stormwater pipes along Victoria Road.
“At this stage, pipes are clean and functional. Joburg Water will test the water to determine the source of the water. If it is underground water, the JRA teams will have to excavate sections of the road to divert the water flow accordingly.
JRA will have to undertake further investigations to determine the remedial scope.
“The investigation, which will start on Monday, April 13, will also determine whether the work can be undertaken internally or if it will be a project to be designed and implemented. Timeframes are yet to be confirmed.”
Johannesburg Water’s Zandfontein North depot water section manager, Usher Hadebe, said, “We are here in Parkmore because of water running across the streets. Across the corner of 6th Street and Victoria Avenue, there is water coming from the yard, which I suspect is groundwater, but I can’t confirm that yet.
Today I will take water samples and take them for testing. I’m expecting to get the result on Monday morning.”
Hadebe added that they had previously taken water samples on 4th Street, and the results determined that it’s borehole water.
“On 4th Street, we have a borehole which is pouring water onto the street and which residents have been complaining about.
The results of the samples we took determined that it’s borehole water. But those samples were not taken this year. I think they were taken in 2016, if I’m correct, or 2018, somewhere there.
Also read: Update: Parkmore sinkhole woes persist as JRA points to water pipe leak
“Last year in September, I came and met the suburb manager, Lori, on site to show her where the water was coming from. So that one, I’m definitely sure it’s borehole water, not groundwater. I will give an update on 5th Street and 6th Street on Monday once the results are out.”
For Klein, the inspection marks the beginning of action after years of engagement with authorities regarding the sinkholes and oozing stormwater drains, which have gotten worse over the years.
“This has been going on now for years, and we’ve been trying to have set meetings with Joburg Water and JRA since 2022 to discuss the ongoing water problems
. So I’m so glad that finally it seems we’re going to get to a point where investigations are going to proceed and we’re going to get a solution and a conclusion to everything, hopefully in the next couple of months.”
Van Onselen urged residents to remain patient as the process unfolds. “It’s going to be a big project, so residents are just advised to be aware and to just please bear with the process. But I think everybody will be really grateful once this really unacceptable issue is finally fixed, that’s been going on for years.”
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