Birchleigh sinkholes leave residents worried

Birchleigh residents have expressed their dissatisfaction with the city’s road infrastructure after massive sinkholes in the area have gone unrepaired for years.

Residents said they have reported their concerns to the city for more than three years.

“The Essenwood Avenue sinkholes have been there for more than three years.

“The oldest reference numbers available to me date back to 2022 because the city’s app seems to delete reference numbers after a few years,” said Tracy Serfontein.

“The state of roads in Birchleigh is tragic. The sinkhole problem is due to the crumbling sewage or storm drainage system, as far as I am aware.

ALSO READ: CoE advises residents to report early sinkholes

This issue is of great concern. Roads such as Boekenhout Avenue, Kamferhout Avenue, Koedoe Avenue and Kwagga Street are just some of the roads riddled with sinkholes in the area.

“Driving around it, it is apparent that residents have taken matters into their own hands and started filling the sinkholes with rubble, garden refuse and rubbish just to make the road drivable and safer for pedestrians and animals,” said Serfontein.

Serfontein added that few street lights work.

“Visitors to the area may very well end up either falling into one or driving into one of the sinkholes. The suburb’s local flower has become a yellow plastic barrier to warn road users of the holes,” she said.

ALSO READ: Rondebult Road closed due to a sinkhole

She said residents and ward councillor Amanda Davison report and escalate the matter regularly.

Serfontein said that either the city’s officials claim to be busy with the problem or they say it is on the IDP or there is no money to repair the roads.

“Will this be the next Beukes Road tragedy in Kempton Park? Does a car actually have to fall into a hole for anyone to notice? Are we waiting for someone to die first before these holes are seen to?” she asked.

“At the IDP meeting on April 15, it was stated that Kempton Park was one of, if not the best, contributors to the CoE’s kitty.

“The kitty is another black hole, in my opinion, because the maintenance and upkeep of our all infrastructure is non-existent, and a once beautiful suburb has turned into a dangerous and miserable place to live.”

Birchleigh resident Lizanda Joshua said one of her worst fears regarding sinkholes in Birchleigh was the risk of injury and death of innocent children.

ALSO READ: City urges residents to beware of early signs of sinkholes

“There are many schools in the vicinity; one school has over 2 000 learners. These sinkholes are a ticking time bomb, especially for scholar transporters.

“I think the cause of the sinkholes is because there has been no road maintenance in over three decades.”
Joshua said she feels robbed as a ratepayer.

“We are told our areas are the best payers towards utilities. Yet, we cannot see what we are paying for and reap no benefits,” said Joshua.

Ward 15 Clr Amanda Davison said in April 2021, the Roads and Storm Water Department took on repairs of Birchleigh’s derelict system.

“Unfortunately, the budget had been cut to the point that only about one kilometre of the road could be repaired.”

She said the whole system running up to Birchleigh Hoërkool needed urgent replacement.

“Before commencing this project in 2021, technicians entered the stormwater system to investigate. It was found that at various points, the pipes were cracked and damaged,” said Davison.

ALSO READ: CoE warns residents to keep an eye out for sinkholes developing

“Water eroded the ground under the pipeline, resulting in the colapse of the road seen as a sinkhols. The heavy storms of late have exacerbated the situation.”

Davison said since 2021 the project could not continue due to lack of funds and resources.

Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini confirmed that the CoE was aware of the sinkholes in the area.

Dlamini said that the CoE did not have the budget for the sinkhole repairs during the 2023/24 financial year.

“Budget for the sinkholes repairs might be available in the new financial year but it must be said that this depends on the availability of funding,” said Dlamini.

Dlamini said various possibilities cause sinkholes, starting from collapsed concrete stormwater pipes, nature and of course if there is any illegal activity underground.