Concern over state of disrepair of uMhlanga sinkhole
The sinkhole started to form after heavy rains in February and has affected the parking lot of Durban View Park with a section of around 30 bays cordoned off.
RESIDENTS of uMhlanga have raised their concerns over the length of time it has taken to repair a sinkhole at the Durban View Park parking lot.
The sinkhole at Durban View Park is as a result of a collapsed stormwater drain which has impacted around 30 parking bays used by visitors and locals alike.
Residents say that for the last three months, the sinkhole has been cordoned off with seemingly little or no action being taken.
The sinkhole, which started to form after heavy rains in February, has also been reported by residents, the ward councillor and the uMhlanga Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP).
The closure of the section in the parking lot has also led to some motorists driving contra-flow, causing congestion.
Also read: Durban North residents voice concerns over sewage overflows
Local resident Dale Stiehler said she has avoided coming down to the area due to the congestion.
“It is more difficult to find parking on the weekend as you’re only able to access two out of three sections within the parking lot. I have young children and often bring them down to the playground here, but I’ve avoided doing that because of the congestion and inconvenience. Some motorists also drive contra-flow to try and access those parking bays, which makes it more difficult,” she said. “The rates we pay should be going towards repairs of the sinkhole and a similar one in Chartwell Drive. My question is, why is it taking so long to repair and reinstate? This spot is frequented by a large number of people all hoping to walk along the promenade, so it should be a priority.”
New Ward 35 councillor Bradley Singh said he was considering using funds from his Block Sum allocation – funds allocated to ward councillors for local projects – to address the sinkhole and get it repaired.
“The sinkhole occurred because the stormwater drain was unable to manage the excess water overflow. Roads and Stormwater lacks a budget for repairs because funds have been allocated to address other significant damages caused by flooding. As ward councillor, there is a budget of R3 million allocated to each ward. I have made a formal request for the department to utilise this funding to repair the sinkhole. The timeline involves getting the funds approved, securing a vote number for the allocation, and following the SCM process to appoint a contractor or complete the task internally.
Also read: Durban mayor pleased with wastewater treatment works repair project
“I understand that the parking situation at Durban View is already quite congested. As a result, the waiting time for a parking spot has increased, leading to significant delays for residents who wish to use the facilities. Sadly, many find themselves unable to locate a parking space. I’m doing everything possible to ensure this gets resolved as soon as possible.
He added that there are many concerns, and the department currently lacks both asphalt and backfill materials to fix the potholes and sinkholes with another sinkhole reported on Chartwell Drive.
For more from Northglen News, follow us on Facebook, X or Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.
Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here
