Cilliers Brink, the Mayor of Tshwane, where dolomite rock is the cause of multiple sinkholes. Picture: Jacques Naude/Independent Newspapers
The Tshwane Metro municipality says the process of fixing the 55 sinkholes in the city was an ongoing one, which was dependent on various factors.
The city’s spokesperson, Lindela Mashigo, said the repairing of these sinkholes was dependent on budget availability and contractors being available to take on the work, among other things.
“Two high-priority sinkhole incidents were completely repaired in the previous financial year (Clifton and Potgieter Streets in Lyttelton Manor as well as Dan Pienaar in Pierre van Ryneveld),” Mashigo added.
He said it was difficult for the metro to provide an estimate for the amount as costing for a sinkhole incident repair is dependent on the complexity and extent of the affected site.
Mashigo added that the completion date was subjected to the yearly budget provisions. It was previously reported that there were approximately 49 sinkholes in Centurion with a limited budget to fill them and repair the roadways and other related infrastructure.
According to a geologist’s advice, a wide portion of Centurion is located on dolomite rock, which dissolves over time when it comes into persistent contact with water.
With more and more sinkholes forming in the region, road authorities have more on their plate than ever before, and they now also have less money.
Following approval of the new municipal budget in May last year, the purse for sinkhole repairs in the Tshwane area was slashed by 50%, from R30 million per year to R15 million, finance MMC Peter Sutton revealed.
According to a municipal insider, one of the sinkholes was repaired through a private initiative. The Irene Landowners Association raised over R470,000 to fill up a sinkhole that formed on an important thoroughfare that carries over 20,000 commuters a day.
In Atteridgeville, several families were forced to abandon their shacks when a sinkhole suddenly began enlarging. Residents reported widespread property damage. The sinkhole became a rubbish dump, posing health risks to residents.
Children played next to the it, while local vendors in the vicinity took their chances, unaware of whether it would further expand. The sinkhole was eventually fixed after several years.
Saturday Star
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