Vosloorus families live in fear due to sinkholes

Two families from Umboboyi Street, Nfundo Park, Vosloorus are living in fear amid consequential developments of existing sinkholes that are badly affecting their homes.

Two houses (stands 20450 and 20449) are most affected but so are another five houses in the same street. The United Christian Fellowship Church and Vosloorus SAPS are also affected.

Kathorus MAIL assessed homes from most to least damaged.

The damage is more or less the same with cracks around the houses from the upper part of the foundation to the roof and the loosening of the soil.

The difference is the number of cracks and the size. The most distressed families have large cracks that affect the foundation, doors and window frames.

At least five large sinkholes can be seen in an open field approximately 300m away from the houses.

The Masilela family, which is one of the worst affected, told Kathorus MAIL that they are always afraid because initially, the sinkholes were affecting the backrooms that are used for rental purposes, but now it is moving towards the main house.

“Our kitchen door does not close anymore due to the crack. They are affecting the roof and the foundation as well. It is not safe. The house can collapse anytime,” said Masilela.

They reported the matter to Ward 95 Clr Khehla Phillip Madlala on February 13.

“Madlala came to assess the house and informed us that he will escalate the matter to the relevant department. This was followed by a visit from engineers who said they are from CoE,” she said.

“Two weeks ago a gentleman also come to assess cracks on the walls. I am not sure where he was coming from and he told us that his job is done, we have to wait for a person who is going to move us. I am not sure what to expect from this whole process because we have been reporting this issue for years.”

Magret Seoketsa is a pensioner who lives with her daughter and grandchildren. She has been living in Nfundo Park for 32 years.

She told Kathorus MAIL that in 2020 she had to move out of her house for six months because there was a sinkhole outside the yard, which affected the foundation of the house, a portion of her back yard and the toilet.

“I left the house in June and returned in November. They dug the backyard and poured sand and used concrete for the paving, however, it is eroding. The cracks on the foundation were covered with cement but those cracks are reemerging again,” said Seoketsa.

She said officials haven’t informed them to move, but they would like to move because it is becoming riskier to live there.

“I do not have a problem with moving because our life is at risk. The conditions for moving are that they have to provide me with a place to stay or give me money to find a place. My grandchildren are still attending school they have to live in an area near their school,” she added.

Jane Shembe said they extended their home in 2018, but both parts of the new and old house have sustained cracks in the walls.

She said they are always afraid especially when it rains.

“When they were checking other houses they also assessed mine but we did not get a report we are still waiting for them,” said Jane.

Councillor Madlala said upon receiving the complaint he invited the CoE’s Department of City Planning to do an assessment and they brought a consultant they both confirmed that there is a sinkhole affecting the houses.

He said they are still in the consultation stage, the families have been briefed about the outcome of the assessment report and they were also advised that they will be moved so that they are safe until the sinkholes have been rehabilitated.

“When I arrived at 20450, I discovered that there is a big crack in one of the bedroom walls and you take steps you could hear that there was a movement of the soil below,” said Madlala.

He said he went outside the house, and while he was checking he found that there was actual movement on the wall and behind the house there is a big visible sinkhole.

“I am not good with diameters but I would suspect it is about three to five meters, the family has done justice in terms of trying to cover it with plastic.

But it is clear that the water is still going in there because the hole is growing. There is also another visible one at the church I think the diameter is approximately 1, 5 meters,” he continued.

“I also went next door at 20449, and found that there are visible cracks on the wall and they are unable to close the kitchen door because of the movement of the soil.”

Madlala said that based on the meeting they had there was no indication of timelines on when the families will be moved.

However, on March 27, they were issued with formal notices to inform them that they will be moved for safety reasons.

She said they will be moved to a place that will be conducive for children to be able to go to school and for parents to go to work.

The City of Ekurhuleni’s intervention

The CoE spokesperson Zweli Dlamini confirmed that the entire Mboboyi Street has been affected by the sinkhole.

He said the city responds timeously to sinkhole complaints and due to a backlog of sinkholes awaiting rehabilitation works within the CoE, sinkhole rehabilitation is being carried out based on risk classification and available budget within each financial year.

“Through the city’s sinkhole rehabilitation contractors have already informed the families of alternative accommodations and they will be moving them this week, likely on April 6, with provision also made to accommodate transport for school kids if applicable,” said Dlamini.

He said city planning has secured rental accommodation and cost will be incurred by the city.

When asked what will happen to the families’ homes, Dlamini noted that a detailed geotechnical investigation will be conducted and based on findings from the investigation, scientific judgement will be taken.

And other affected properties are currently being discussed with the Department of Human Settlement about other affected properties and they will inform the city.