Business owners get a sinking feeling
"The amount of rain we have been having has not been an abnormal amount. The infrastructure just can't cope."
Two local business owners feel that insufficient and deteriorating infrastructure led to the formation of what appears to be a sinkhole.
The sinkhole, located in the driveway of Mr Darrel Robson’s business property on Mountjoy Street, formed when a forklift was driving up the driveway.
“The forklift was driving past when everything started falling in,” said Mr Robson.
Mr Robson believes that the interlocked paving bricks were holding each other up and everything underneath the bricks had already deteriorated.
“The pressure of the forklift must have been enough to make everything collapse,” said Mr Robson.
Councillor Wendy Morgan of ward 36 said the sinkhole was reported on the same day, October 21, when it formed.
On October 25, Clr Morgan sent an email to the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, requesting feedback on the sinkhole.
She said a worker from the roads and stormwater department came out on October 27 to look at the sinkhole.
“I was told that the sinkhole could only be addressed after October 31,” said Clr Morgan.
Clr Morgan was told the head engineer was currently on leave.
Neighbouring business and property owner Mr Jaap Kelder said he has also had issues related to flooding at his business premises since 1979, when he moved in.
“I used to lodge verbal complaints but in 1995 the flooding became worse so I began submitting written complaints to the municipality,” said Mr Kelder.
“The amount of rain we have been having has not been an abnormal amount. The infrastructure just can’t cope,” said Mr Robson.
The hole, which is the size of a manhole cover and a few metres deep, has affected Mr Robson’s business as the vehicles cannot get to the loading area.
A request for comment was sent to the EMM on October 27, requesting comment by 9am on October 28.
At the time of going to print no comment had been received.
