Johannesburg Water traces Parkmore sinkhole mystery to borehole flow
Johannesburg Water’s water tests link Parkmore streets' flooding to borehole water.
After years of frustration and increasing damage to infrastructure, Parkmore residents may finally be closer to answers.
Recent investigations confirm that borehole water is a major contributor to the suburb’s ongoing sinkhole crisis. During a joint site inspection, conducted by Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) and Johannesburg Water (JW) on April 9, officials assessed the most severe damage currently visible at the corner of 4th Street and Victoria Avenue, where a storm water drain issue has evolved into a big hole that is spreading into the roadway.
It is suspected that the water causing the damage could be flowing down from the upper roads along Victoria Avenue, 5th Street, which is suffering from a sinkhole in the middle of the road, and 6th Street.
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As part of the investigation processes, JW collected water samples from 5th and 6th streets to determine whether the water flowing comes from municipal pipe lines.
JRA acting head of regional operations Mpho Maruping said, following several assessments of the issue on corner 4th Street and Victoria Avenue in 2025, JRA jetted all the storm water pipes along Victoria Road. “At this stage, pipes are clean and functional. JW will test the water to determine the source of 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 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.”
On April 13, JW confirmed that the results of the samples taken on 5th and 6th streets determined that water flowing through the problem areas is linked to a borehole, rather than natural ground water.
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JW Zandfontein North depot water section manager Usher Hadebe said the test results from 5th and 6th streets align with earlier findings. “This is the same as on 4th Street, where we have a borehole which is pouring water onto the street, and which residents have been complaining about.
“The results of the samples taken in 2016 or 2018, on 4th Street and Victoria Avenue, determined that the water comes from a borehole. Therefore, this is not a JW issue.”
For Parkmore Community Association manager Lori Klein, the inspection marks a turning point after years of engagement with authorities regarding the sinkholes and oozing storm water drains, which have progressively got worse over the years. “This has been going on now for years, and we’ve been trying to set meetings with JW and JRA since 2022 to discuss the water problems that have been ongoing. So, I’m so glad that, finally, it seems we get into 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.”
Ward 90 councillor Renate 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.”
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