With the persistent rainfall, the City of Ekurhuleni advises residents to monitor signs and the development of sinkholes on their properties.
According to a study conducted in 2010, 52% of Ekurhuleni’s land is dolomitic.
Some of the early signs of a developing sinkhole are a house tilting to one side, the slight sinking of the ground, and a depression or unexplainable holes in the yard (no matter how small these may be).
Sinkholes are caused mainly by stagnant water and constant water pipe leaks, which result in underground erosion.
To mitigate against water pipe leaks and the resultant development of sinkholes, the city is replacing the old concrete pipes with more flexible pipes that can withstand unstable grounds. These pipes can move with the ground without breaking, as the earth shifts for any reason.
The public is advised to use professionals when building or extending their homes because they will know how to navigate the building conditions, conduct land surveying and understand the fitting building material for specific land conditions.
If residents see signs of a possible sinkhole or dolomite, they may report it at their local customer care centre or call 011 999 4666 /4940.
Once the matter is reported, the city sends a team of experts to inspect the reported incident.
Based on the assessment, the occupants may be requested to evacuate the property affected by the sinkhole, depending on the risk posed by such a sinkhole.
Should an evacuation be recommended, the area will be condoned off to deny unauthorised access.
A detailed geotechnical investigation is then conducted to determine the possible cause and the extent of the sinkhole.
Rehabilitation then commences and the area is reinstated to its original state. The affected occupants are then advised when to return.
The public is warned against accessing a cordoned-off property as this may result in the unfortunate loss of life because the decision to evacuate is informed by the threat as demonstrated by the investigation by experts.
