Thieves move in after residents flee sinkhole
A HUGE sinkhole in Centurion, Tshwane, has not only left residents and businesses out in the cold, it has also attracted thieves.
They have moved in and stolen what they can lay their hands on while structural damage worsens.
The damage to two residential houses in Lyttelton Manor started in November last year, leaving them unstable and sinking into the ground. The walls have cracked and are collapsing. The trouble started when a burst sewage pipe leaked water into the area’s dolomitic rock.
As it eroded, the structures started collapsing. The sinkhole damaged not only the house but also the road, which had to be cordoned off, forcing a neighbouring security business to also abandon their property.
With the City of Tshwane having declared the area unsafe for occupation, the families relocated.
However, thieves have been seen stealing from the ruins, taking anything they can find, including door handles and other items.
Affected resident Elvis Mathaba said he lost his retirement home and was forced to relocate to Pretoria West, where he is renting a property.
He said he was still waiting for an insurance payment for the damage to his home.
By yesterday, both houses were falling deeper into the hole and the city had not started on any repair work, citing budget constraints.
Residents in the area fear the houses will eventually get swallowed by the earth, and the exposed pipe along the properties could become damaged, resulting in water interruptions.
Meanwhile, a new sinkhole appeared in Main Road in Irene, Centurion, and has forced the Department
of Roads and Transport to close the road and redirect traffic.
Department spokesperson Melitah Madiba said they were rehabilitating the road to make it safe.
City spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said there were 48 sinkholes awaiting repairs, excluding two on provincial roads.
He said that the process to rehabilitate the sinkholes may take a while because it involved site securing, diversion and/or protection of affected services, geotechnical investigation, preparation of rehabilitation design or method and obtaining a suitable contractor.