Investigation eases Pretoria ‘sinkhole’ panic
Ward councillor Pieter van Heerden says he reported the hole to the metro whose inspection finds that it is not a sinkhole.
The hole is currently being repaired.
The deep hole on Garsfontein Road in Waterkloof Glen, Pretoria, is not a sinkhole as many may have feared.
This is according to ward councillor Pieter van Heerden, who said the hole was erosion from underneath where a pipe ran, reports Pretoria East Rekord.
The hole appeared to be a small pothole, but upon inspection, a resident found that the hole was very deep.
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This caused panic among residents on social media, with some wondering whether it could sink as vehicles drove over it.
The hole appeared to be a small pothole, but upon inspection, a resident found that the hole was deep. Photo: Facebook
The hole was formed by erosion from underneath. Photo: Facebook
Van Heerden said he reported the hole to the metro, whose inspection found that it was not a sinkhole.
“There is a pipe that runs underneath, so erosion may be caused by filtered water from the drainage,” he said.
“Rainwater may have also contributed.”
Van Heerden said people could be at ease, as the hole did not pose any imminent danger.
“There is no danger of any sort,” he said.
He said the road was being fixed and would be “compacted tightly” to ensure that further erosion would not take place.
Pretoria East Rekord visited the site, where the at least 2-metre deep hole was being repaired.
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