Warning issued over Centurion's sinkhole threat amid budget shortfalls

The Freedom Front Plus has warned that the City of Tshwane’s poor funding for Region 4’s growing sinkhole crisis will soon see the most-hit parts of Centurion collapsing if the budget is not re‑prioritised.

This follows the latest formation of a fresh sinkhole last week in Lyttelton in Centurion, adding to more than 60 sinkholes already in the area.

FF-Plus councillor Wesley Jacobs pointed out that poor budget prioritisation to the recurring sinkhole problem put parts of Centurion at real risk of sinkhole collapse.

He cited that only R14,7 million was budgeted for sinkhole rehabilitation in the 2024/25 financial year.

Kholofelo Morodi, MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, previously said the municipality has a budget shortfall of more than R180m after having put aside R14.7m budget to tackle the sinkhole crisis. 

According to Jacobs, the budget was barely enough to cover nine low-priority sites. 

“Larger sinkholes, which could cost up to R30 million each, are left as is,” he said.

He mentioned that more than R500 million is spent on water tankers annually, describing it as a temporary and unsustainable substitute for proper infrastructure investment.

“The Freedom Front Plus condemns this poor prioritisation, warning that areas such as Lyttleton will become increasingly unsafe as cavities under roads and properties continue to form,” he said.

Jacobs said his party demands that the budget be revised to match the real scale of the sinkhole crisis, plus a dedicated maintenance plan for early leak detection, geological monitoring, and tighter inter‑departmental coordination.

“Upgrading Tshwane's water network is not optional; it is a crisis that should be prioritised and sustainably funded. Sinkholes are not the root of the problem, it is the metro's crumbling infrastructure. If the Metro fails to acknowledge this reality, parts of Centurion run the risk of literally and figuratively collapsing,” he said.

He said the metro has made progress with repairs since June 2025, but the current budget is still too small to handle the crisis effectively.

Municipal spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said geological assessments are underway on a sinkhole that opened along Selborne Avenue in Lyttelton. 

He said: “Preliminary observations indicate that the sinkhole continues to expand, with initial measurements estimating a diameter of approximately 12 metres and a depth of 6 metres. As the surrounding soil continues to dry out, there remains a likelihood that the sinkhole may develop further.”

He said continuous monitoring and technical assessments are underway to determine the most appropriate stabilisation and rehabilitation method.

“In the interest of public safety, the affected area has been fully cordoned off. A diamond mesh fence and barbed wire have been installed around the wider perimeter, including sections outside the affected stand, as part of the city’s immediate safeguarding and security measures,” he said.

He confirmed that a municipal sewer line traverses the rear section of the affected property. 

“The pipe has experienced recurrent blockages resulting in sewer overflows on-site. Emergency interventions were implemented immediately after the sinkhole was detected to relieve pressure on the line. However, due to the pipe’s location and the high volumes of wastewater it conveys, it remains vulnerable to repeated blockages,” he said.

Mashigo said plans to divert the exposed sewer manhole and reroute the affected pipeline are currently at an advanced planning stage.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za