City of Tshwane does not have enough funds to deal with sinkhole crisis

Tshwane — The City of Tshwane currently faces several serious issues as sinkholes and power outages have wreaked havoc across the city.

The roads leading to the corner of Van Riebeeck and Trichardt streets in Lyttleton Manor were cordoned off after a sinkhole developed at the corner, causing a house bounty wall and part of the front yard to collapse. Another sinkhole formed on DF Malan Avenue in Lyttleton, The Citizen reported.

Ward councillor, Johan van Burren said the ground gave way on Saturday, with secondary cracks forming around the sinkhole, raising fears it could collapse.

City of Tshwane MMC, Kholofelo Morodi led a tour last week to assess the five largest sinkholes in Centrution, with most of them situated in Lyttleton. She said the city would need at least R200 million to repair the sinkholes, which it could not afford.

She said the situation required urgent action and intervention, with the administration working on a comprehensive plan to restore and protect the region.

Centuron is currently dealing with more than 50 sinkholes and residents are concerned about their safety and security and how the sinkholes affect them.

Kilner Park resident Bianca Kaepffer said they had been without power after a tree broke and damaged three properties in her street, including powerlines.

City spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said R14.5 million had been allocated during the current financial year to repair nine small and low-priority sinkholes.

Kholofelo Morodi, Tshwane MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, said the capital needs about R200-million to repair all the sinkholes in the city however it only has a budget of R14-million. TCG pic.twitter.com/ZbJtOElALE

— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) February 21, 2025

According to TimesLIVE, Mashigo said the sinkholes were due to a combination of internal stormwater drainage and a water leak. She said a long-term plan i in place to upgrade ageing services and water pipes.

“The main cause of the sinkholes is leaking water pipes, however, sinkholes also occur due to leaking sewer and stormwater pipes, pounding of surface water and leaking irrigation pipes,” he said.

The city has advised affected property owners and residents on safety aspects around the sinkhole and on safeguarding measures within the property.

According to Professor J Louis van Rooy at the University of Pretoria, the dolomitic soil in Centurion also contributes to the high frequency of sinkholes.

“The dolomite bedrock is not only pure dolomite but there are other rock types like chert interlayered which don’t dissolve and other elements are also left after the dolomite dissolves. These materials are now loosely filling the voids and the cavities may also be filled with soil falling in from the surface,” said Van Rooy.

When concentrated water inflows occur, it can trigger sinkholes when the water erodes the material or if there is a void in the rock. He said the main action was to stop water leaking into possible sinkhole areas and prevent any inflows from stormwater.

Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Picture: X/@GPDRT_

For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com

Compiled by Matthew Petersen

Article written by Matthew Petersen

MOST READ