Fresh Twist in Rondebult Sinkhole Saga

The prolonged standoff over responsibility for repairing the Rondebult sinkhole, which has been open for about seven months, appears to have been broken as authorities take steps to address the issue.

The metro has yet to formally respond to inquiries from the Boksburg Advertiser regarding the status of the Rondebult sinkhole repair process. However, sources suggest that the city will take charge of the matter.

But there has been no notice of when construction will start or when to expect the completion of repairs. The uncertainty surrounding the timeline raises questions about the funding for the overdue repairs.

According to reliable insider information, while the city has decided to repair the road, concerns have arisen regarding the potential financial strain this decision might impose on its budget.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that following the resolution, a proposal was proposed to convene a meeting involving various relevant departments such as finance, city planning, and roads. The purpose of this meeting would be to explore and establish a viable funding mechanism for the repair project. Discussions around the road repair plan are said to have occurred at a recent city planning oversight committee meeting.

Despite attempts to obtain a response from the metro, the Boksburg Advertiser received no comments regarding the recent developments at the time of publishing.

Also read: Repair Efforts Initiated for Rondebult Road Sinkhole

The delay in addressing the sinkhole issue dates back to February when a sinkhole emerged on the northbound hard shoulder of Rondebult Road in Comet. This development led to the complete closure of the affected road segment as a precaution. The prolonged closure has significantly disrupted the daily flow of traffic.

The repair delay was because of debates between the metro and the Council for Geoscience (CGS) about the party responsible for fixing the sinkhole. While the metro referred the matter to the CGS for investigation, CGS returned the issue to the metro, asserting that it was the city’s responsibility to undertake the repairs.

Recent reports indicate that CGS dispatched a team to examine the sinkhole’s cause earlier this month. Ward councillor Marius De Vos confirmed that the municipality is responsible for the repair. Still, no funds have been allocated, prolonging the road closure and causing frustration among residents and commuters.

As concerns grow over the lack of action to rehabilitate the area and repair the sinkhole, local political parties are also getting involved. The DA has expressed dissatisfaction with handling the situation and the lack of urgency in addressing the concerns of residents and road users. The party claims that the coalition government has failed to act promptly and allocate the necessary budget for the repair work.

Source: Rondebult sinkhole saga takes a new direction

Also read:

Repair Plans in Progress for Larger of Two Robindale Sinkholes

Picture: X / City_Ekurhuleni

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