WATCH: Whose job is it to fix the Rondebult Road sinkhole?

Motorists using the roads in and around Comet, the Boksburg CBD and Plantation will likely experience gridlocked traffic for many more months.

The delay is primarily because authorities are locked in an intense debate over which government entities are responsible for fixing the sinkhole in Rondebult Road.

Early in February, a sinkhole opened up in the northbound hard shoulder of Rondebult Road in Comet, prompting authorities to completely close this section of the road as a precautionary measure. The closure has proved to be a nightmare for the heavy traffic it carries each day.

After being inundated with complaints from frustrated motorists, the Boksburg Advertiser revisited the site last week to find that, three months later, no remedial work had been done.
Instead, the gaping water-logged hole continues to gradually swallow the sub-grade layer of the northbound carriageway, threatening to submerge the entire road.

Responsibility
The Ekurhuleni metro confirmed that no progress on the repairs was made because little has been achieved in discussions between itself and the provincial Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE).
Thus, began a back-and-forth between the metro and the Council for Geoscience (CGS).

In the latest back-and-forth between the two sides over the best course of action, the Ekurhuleni City Planning Department referred the matter to the CGS because it believes the DMRE should take responsibility.
However, the CGS shipped the matter back to the metro, saying it is the city’s responsibility to do the repairs.

The City Planning Department, however, stated the sinkhole might have been the result of mining activities in the area, so DMRE is responsible.

“The process to repair the road will commence once all the stakeholders have reached an agreement. We are working together to try and find solutions as soon as possible,” said metro spokesperson Zweli Dlamini.

He pointed out that engineers assessed the situation and gave guidance on what needed to be done.
“They found that the sinkhole is not dolomite-related, but might be linked to the mining history of the area.
“For this reason, the matter was handed to the CGS and DMRE.”

Economy
The CoE acknowledged the prolonged closure of the road had a ripple effect on the city’s economic activities, and a devastating effect on the alternative routes and infrastructure, particularly residential roads, which struggle to cope with the surge in traffic.

“We fully understand the urgency of an early intervention to reopen the road, and we hope the processes will be fast-tracked.
“The road closure has a disastrous impact on many sectors of the region’s economy, particularly economic activities dependent on the city’s road network.
“Rondebult Road is one of the critical routes vital to the region’s economic well-being,” said Dlamini.
“It links producers to markets, workers to jobs and provides access to the airport and many social activities.”

Complaints
Dlamini said the metro had received many complaints from residents, including councillors, about traffic chaos and high volumes of vehicles driving through residential areas on roads not designed for heavy traffic and big trucks, especially trucks transporting dangerous goods.

“We, however, thank motorists for their understanding and ask them for patience while the city works with other stakeholders to address the problem.”

Councillors
Ward councillors in the affected areas also weighed in with criticisms regarding the delay and concerns about the road closure’s effect on the economy and the infrastructure on the alternative routes.

Ward 32 Clr Marius de Vos said. “Having seen the assessment of the sinkhole conducted by Khathutshelo Dau, an engineering geologist, it is clear that DMRE is responsible for rehabilitating the road.

“This delayed response from the DMRE adds to the already miserable traffic conditions through town during the day.
“Accidents in the CBD and on major roads are the order of the day during peak hours. I am inundated by calls from residents in Plantation complaining about the volume of traffic, including trucks, transporting hazardous goods through the suburb.
“These residents are still traumatised about the gas tanker blast on Christmas Eve and now have to contend with traffic congestion to leave or access their properties during peak hour traffic,” said De Vos.

“I raised the issue of the prolonged response to the sinkhole in the City Planning Oversight meeting in April and hope the committee will be able to apply more pressure on the DMRE to speedily attend to the sinkhole to relieve the stress on motorists.”
Ward 33’s Ashley Hoods said: “I can imagine the economic fall-out and negative impact the prolonged closure of the Rondebult Road must have for those who use it.

“What is of grave concern for me is the slow response from the DMRE and the provincial government as the key stakeholders in getting the sinkhole rehabilitated and the road reopened.
“Attempts by the city to bring these stakeholders on board for a speedy resolution have been met with slow to no responses.
“The DA members in Provincial Legislature will also exact pressure on the provincial government and the DMRE to play their role in getting the matter resolved as speedily as possible.”

EMPD
Since the closure of the stretch of the road in Comet, traffic remains a nightmare for many motorists on the alternative routes in Boksburg during peak hours.
The situation is even worse when the traffic lights are out because of load-shedding, and many motorists have bemoaned an ‘absence’ of pointsmen to help direct traffic on busy Boksburg roads.

However, the EMPD media liaison officer, Inspector Kobeli Mokheseng, told the Boksburg Advertiser that EMPD officers, including traffic wardens, were deployed to control traffic and divert it to alternative routes during peak times.

Municipal workers were at least spotted mowing the overgrown grass on the abandoned stretch of road.

WATCH: Load shedding causing chaos on major routes, pointsmen nowhere to be seen