Miles Stoker Road expected to be closed for some time
Due to the effects of the illegal mining activity in the area, the road will be closed while repairs are done.
Miles Stoker Road is being ripped apart due to illegal mining activity.
On July 27 the Roodepoort Record reported on the road being closed due to a sinkhole that appeared on the northbound carriageway, believed to have been caused by illegal mining activity. According to Mosa Makhalima, spokesperson for the Johannesburg Road Agency (JRA), after investigating the road, they discovered the tunnel was not only on one side, but ran across the road into the veld.
She explained they then had to close off both lanes, so they can dig up the road surface to get to where the tunnel originated. She added they can’t simply just patch the road as it would cave in again, therefor they would have to fill the tunnel first. She notes this may take some time and the road will remain closed, however, they aren’t able to say for how long.
• Also read: One lane in Miles Stoker Road closed with immediate effect
An operation was held on July 27 by Florida police in which a generator along with six mining motors, 21 pendukas, one broken scale, six stamper buckets, and 200 mining steel balls were confiscated. In attendance were Florida police, Krugersdorp Railway Police, JMPD, Prasa, Crime Prevention Wardens, Home Affairs officials as well as Help24 and a CPF official.
Makhalima continued to say the tunnel dug underneath the road is not the only illegal mining shaft, but they continue throughout the veld. She concluded an operation was to be carried out by the police again on July 28 to address the matter of illegal mining, however, it could not be confirmed whether this did take place. As soon as communication from the police is received an update will be given.
Bertha Peters-Scheepers, JRA’s spokesperson, added alternative routes for road users to avoid Miles Stoker Road:
• approaching from the west (Randfontein) make use of Gustav Street and Mare Street
• approaching from the east (Johannesburg), turn right at Westlake Road and use Albertina Sisulu Road
• approaching the south make use of Gustav Street, Mare Street or Roodekrans Road, Lyon Street
• approaching from the north, make use of Albertina Sisulu and Westlake roads to travel east towards Johannesburg or Mare Street and Gustav Street to travel west
“All motorists are advised to make use of signalised intersections along the R41 (Main Reef Road) at either Gustav Street or Westlake Road to execute right turn movements. Motorists are further advised to plan and where possible check for alternate routes and plan travel times accordingly. JRA thanks all road users for their understanding and co-operation.
“JRA is working together with enforcement agencies JMPD and SAPS to address the impact of illegal mining on the City’s road infrastructure. The entity requests councillors, ward committee members, communities, road users, private sector partners, and the media to work with us as active citizens by reporting any acts of illegal mining, as well as vandalism and theft of road infrastructure to the JRA, JMPD, police on 10111 and the COJ call centre number on 0860 JOBURG [562 874],” Peters-Scheepers concluded.
