About 20 roads in Ward 134 are in a terrible state and the cause is believed to be water rising from beneath the surface of the soil which damages the tar.
Often the Joburg Roads Agency waits to work on these roads once the water flow has subsided somewhat, but this usually only happens in winter months.
Ward councillor Devon Steenkamp explained this as he took the Randburg Sun to three of the worst-affected streets in his ward.
Taurus Road along with Apiesdoring and Diamond streets – all in Sundowner, the most-affected suburb – see a constant flow of water bubbling up from the ground and running downhill to form enormous potholes along the way.
Residents took it upon themselves to block Apiesdoring Street by placing cones and tape while they waited for assistance.
“Two cars got stuck here in the dirt. The one woman was able to rev her bakkie a lot and get out but a tuk-tuk could not escape,” said Shaun Asbury, who together with his wife had met Steenkamp at the site.
“We have had water issues for years and I had to redo the driveway a bit and reroute the water into the drainage.”
Asbury joked that he has not had to water the plants in his garden for years thanks to the groundwater.
On Taurus Road and Diamon Street, the situation is similar, with groundwater tearing up driveways and streets.
“Residents and I have reported all of these,” Steenkamp said.
Similarly, a sinkhole seems to be forming not far away in Sharonlea as a result of groundwater
Also read: WATCH: A sinkhole is forming in Raasblaar Street, Sharonlea – ward councillor
Questions were sent to Joburg Roads Agency spokesperson Kelebogile Mafa on March 17 regarding why Steenkamp and residents were not told when these issues would be addressed after reporting them, whether there was a delay in this work and if so, what it was, what could be done about the roads and when this could be expected.
No comment was received by the time this article was published.
