Despite residents in the Laudium/ Erasmia complaining for years to the Tshwane Council about ailing infrastructure that needs urgent replacing, the Council has merely ignored their complaints.
Ironically, despite the area being regarded as dolomatic, even by the Tshwane Council, which has even warned residents to regularly check their water pipes and drainage systems, as any water that seeps into the ground could stir up a huge sinkhole in the area, the same Council does not practice what it preaches. Residents say that the old or worn out Municipal water pipes and drainage systems need to be urgently replaced as more and more pockets of sinkholes are forming in the area, which is very worrisome. This, besides the electrical systems which often fail, whenever there is some wind or rain.
This follows residents of Ben Street, Erasmia, saying that they are worried because of a big hole forming recently, which resulted in a street name pole falling. The hole seems to be spreading and growing deeper and residents in the area fear that a huge sinkhole is looming, which could spread from the street to the nearby homes.
Raion Sivenath of Ben Street, told the Laudium Sun, “The deep hole which has formed in front of my house looks really scary. It seems that the whole road can cave in anytime now, because there are a lot of cracks that are widening across the street. The Council does not seem interested in attending to the core problem, which is ageing infrastructure and we as residents of this street are now in big trouble. The street name pole already fell to the ground because of the deepening hole and I can see a lot of streets in the area, now having the same problem. Everywhere there are cracks and holes, with Laudium and Erasmia already having a number of sinkholes waiting to be fixed, but the Council claims that they have no money to fix these. The situation is getting worse and is spreading rapidly. This is becoming a serious concern for everyone living in the area as the holes on the roads are not only dangerous for vehicles but also for people walking on the street, especially at night when visibility is low. The cracks on the roads are deepening and the ground is becoming unstable in many places. Every time it rains, the situation worsens as the water seeps into the cracks, making the surface even weaker. The damage is not limited to one street; many areas around Ben Street are showing similar problems. People are scared that their houses could also be affected if the ground underneath becomes too weak. It is clear that the Council needs to come with a proper plan and a long-term solution to fix the roads and prevent sink holes. Temporary measures will not be enough, as the cracks are spreading and causing continuous damage. We as residents living on this street feel anxious every day because of the unstable ground and the deepening and growing hole and cracks. A concrete solution is urgently needed to protect both the residents and the infrastructure in Erasmia. We hope that the Ward Councillor and the Council will prioritize this serious concern of the residents and implement a strong, permanent plan to prevent any natural calamities and ensure the safety of the community.”
Ellen Marais, also of Ben Street, told the Laudium Sun, “The hole which is near my house is really bad, as it is dangerous for everyone living in this area. The Council worker came here before, but the issue was not fixed properly and the problem is continuing and getting worse. Every day, the cracks are spreading, and the hole is becoming larger, making it even more dangerous for residents, pedestrians, and vehicles passing through the street. The situation has caused a lot of concern among the people living here. Walking along the street has become risky, especially in the evenings when it is dark, and the unstable ground can easily give way. Vehicles are also at risk, as the road around this hole is uneven and the cracks make driving unsafe. Residents are worried that if nothing is done soon, the damage will become severe, leading to a huge sinkhole, which may lead to serious destruction of property or even loss of life. Many people in the area have pleaded with the Council up with an urgent and a proper plan to repair the sinking hole and strengthen the surrounding roads to prevent further damage. It is essential that the Council acts immediately because the longer the issue continues, the more dangerous it becomes.”
