BCM’s beachfront sinkholes ‘a disaster waiting to happen’

● Residents, tourists at risk from dangerous holes without warning signs

While Hole in the Wall attracts thousands of tourists to the Wild Coast, the East London beachfront is pocked by deep, trash-filled sinkholes that pose a risk to residents and visitors alike.

To add to the disgrace, a stinking sewer manhole, less than 20m from the newly opened Baby Lee Jegels Recreation Park, has disgusted visitors to the area since 2022.

The park’s almost R100m price tag has been slammed by many, with angry comparisons between the amount spent and the work done.

It has already become popularly known as “The Stoep”.

Three sinkholes, less than 20m from the park, have not been repaired since 2022.

Another, near the city’s aquarium, that also opened up in 2022, has been aggravated by recent heavy rains.

A wall was painted last year, when the city’s development agency commissioned artists to do a colourful facelift to beautify the beachfront, but since the recent rains this wall has collapsed.

On a visit to the beachfront on Monday, none of the sinkholes had any warning signs or cordons.

Concerned residents have taken to social media to express their views, many of them furious at the absence of warning signs.

Others were concerned about the safety of beachgoers and tourists.

The city — which has admitted the sinkholes pose a danger to residents — has not said when they will be attended to.

The ward councillor for the area, Funeka Wolose, said she wrote to the municipality when the holes first emerged, but had received no response.

Quigney Ratepayers’ Association chair Satish Nair said the sinkhole near the recreational park opened up early in 2022.

“When it happened, a section of wall along the beachfront pavement fell.

“Heavy rains followed and the big sinkholes emerged.”

Nair said the sinkholes were a disaster waiting to happen.

“People walk around them, and there are no warning signs or barriers.

“Just think of the crowd that visits Eastern Beach during the festive season and on weekends — we have no idea if anyone has already been injured in that area.”

Nair said he reported the holes to the metro.

“When the wall collapsed near the aquarium, I immediately called the councillor requesting danger tape needed to be put up, but this has not been done.

“The councillor says she has reported the matter numerous times without action.

“Cruise ships full of tourists docked in our harbour a few days ago.

“Because I was worried, I called law enforcement to come and ensure the tourists’ safety as they walked along the beachfront.”

Nair said he feared the state of the beachfront would drive tourists away.

“Our association was put together about five months ago and we have been doing all we can to make our beachfront an attractive one.

“We have law enforcement working with us to get car washers under control.

“We are asking authorities to intervene — all we are asking is for the authorities to do their job and we will keep pushing that.” Wolose said she was worried about the safety of beachfront residents.

“At first I was promised the sinkholes near the recreational park were going to be attended to; instead the city fenced off the Eastern Beach to bar cars from parking along the area.

“But no warning signs have been put up to alert people about the danger.”

BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said there had been a lot of erosion along the beachfront in recent weeks.

“We have experienced so much rain, and there is a lot of wet ground, which results in soil slumping,” Ngwenya said.

“Our coastline is very dynamic. We have high seas. “This results in erosion.” Ngwenya said the city would attend to the sinkholes.

“We are constantly dealing with challenges at the beachfront, from Mother Nature to vandalism, car washers, vagrants and cable thieves.

“This is why we have increased police visibility and patrols, which includes a summer satellite police station at the Baby Lee Jegels Recreational Park.

“We have taken stock of the damaged areas and cordoned off those that pose a danger, even though these sometimes get removed.”

‘Just think of the crowd that visits Eastern Beach during the festive season and on weekends — we have no idea if anyone has already been injured in that area’