Last week, residents of Deelkraal, who have to use this road often, complained that someone had once again removed the barriers at the part of the road next to the sinkhole. Since they have been moved, some people, presumably motorists from outside our area, risk their lives by taking a detour on the side of the road where the sinkhole is situated. Sanral, who has taken over the maintenance on this road, has warned time and again that motorists should not move the barriers as they have been placed there for their safety. Meanwhile, the Carletonville police also warn motorists to stay away from this dangerous area. The communication officer, WO Peter Masooa, says the police have recently seen an increase in armed robberies on the R501 past Doornfontein. This could be linked to several illegal miners, also known as zama-zamas, in this area. In one such incident, a motorist drove on the gravel pathway around the sinkhole at 21:30 on Sunday. When he was just about to get back onto the tar road, an Isuzu bakkie with five men drove up to him. The occupants were Sotho-speaking, armed and wearing blankets, typical of many of the illegal miners in the area. The attackers pointed their guns at the car and fired a shot towards them. The thugs then searched their car and took their bags, cell phones, shoes and all the money they had with them. In another incident in the same area, a security guard from one of the mines narrowly escaped death last week. Masooa says the incident happened on Wednesday, 2 March. A security guard from Harmony Gold was checking the old Doornfontein 6 Shaft when an unknown vehicle stopped at the gate at about 01:30. When the guard investigated, several thugs, also suspected to be illegal miners, jumped out and pointed a firearm at him. They overpowered the guard and grabbed his radio and his vehicle’s keys. They then blindfolded him. They failed in their attempt to steal copper cable, however. They then forced the guard onto the back of his bakkie and drove to Annan Shaft with him. They threw him off the vehicle and shot him in the chest twice before racing away. Luckily, the guard was wearing a bulletproof vest and survived. The police are now investigating cases of attempted murder and armed robbery. “We urge all drivers using the R501 to and from Potchefstroom via Doornfontein to avoid driving through the closed road. Two alternative roads are recommended – the N12 or the R559 to Randfontein. It is better to be late and use more petrol than losing your belongings and putting your life in danger,” says Carletonville’s station commander, Brig Marinda Theron. Meanwhile, there is no update on when the sinkhole will be fixed. Sanral’s Northern region’s operations and maintenance manager, Mr Madoda Mthembu, said towards the end of last year that the sinkhole would be repaired as part of an upgrade project planned for the R501. The project is currently at the design stage, scheduled for completion towards the end of this year.7
