Centurion sinkholes flare up again

A water pipe leaking underground was the apparent reason for a portion of Hans Strijdom Avenue in Lyttelton Manor sagging on Sunday.

The “sinkhole”, which the Tshwane metro confirmed it had added to its priority list, resulted in the closure of the road between Langebrink and Station roads, reports Centurion Rekord.

The underground pipe had been leaking for an unknown amount of time without being noticed, according to local ward councillor Johan van Buuren.

“When it became apparent that water was seeping through the tar, the damage had already been done,” Van Buuren said.

“The road started sagging and as a safety precaution the road has been completely closed off.”

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Van Buuren said it was unclear at this stage when the road would be repaired.

“Once the ground has been allowed to stabilise, a more comprehensive assessment will be conducted,” he said.

A similar road closure has affected the corner of Gerhard Street and West Avenue.

Ward councillor David Farquharson confirmed the closure was not a result of a sinkhole, but due to a stormwater drain damaged by heavy rainfall earlier this year.

“A contractor to replace the drain is being procured,” Farquharson said.

“Repairs should be completed before the start of the next rainy season.”

The Tshwane metro on Monday confirmed there were 29 sinkholes on its priority list, 26 of which are in Centurion.

“The metro will repair these as per the sinkhole prioritisation process,” said metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo.

Mashigo said the metro was currently upgrading “wet infrastructure” in the area to minimise occurrences of leaks and damages.

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