Another sign of collapse in South Africa’s richest province
A large sinkhole on the R563 Road, which connects Hekpoort to Krugersdorp in Gauteng, has still not been repaired after 20 months, posing an increasing safety risk for drivers.
The road borders popular tourist destinations such as the Cradle of Humankind and the Sterkfontein Caves.
The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport has declared the area unsafe and has asked the provincial Treasury to provide funding to repair the sinkholes affecting the R500 and R563 roads.
“Preliminary assessments indicated that over 80% of the road surface had caved in along the section of the R500, making it extremely unsafe,” the department said.
It said that this finding led to the closure of sections of the road as a precautionary measure.
The department said that more warning signs have been placed on the road to alert drivers to be vigilant and cautious when approaching affected areas.
It said the requested funding will also be used to cover technical and geotechnical investigations needed to determine how to properly repair the sinkholes.
The department said it is in the “final stages” of discussions regarding the appointment of a contractor to repair the sinkhole, with a final decision expected in the next few weeks.
“Traffic accommodation remains in place along the designated detour routes at both sites. The department urges motorists to adhere to all road signage, reduce speed when approaching affected areas, and exercise caution when using the designated detour routes.”
This comes after the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) Member for the Democratic Alliance (DA), Evert Du Plessis, called upon the Gauteng Department of Roads and Logistics and Mogale City to work together to ensure a safe alternative route.
Du Plessis said that the alternative route being provided is causing traffic congestion and risking drivers’ safety.
“The alternative route is severely congested and has no signage. The barriers erected around the sinkhole have collapsed. This makes the alternative route unsafe and prone to causing accidents,” said Du Plessis.
He said that the DA had asked the Gauteng MEC for Roads and Logistics in the GPL, Kedibone Daile-Tlabela, when the sinkhole would be repaired, but Daile-Tlabela admitted there was no budget to repair it.
Du Plessis said Daile-Tlabela confirmed that a geologist had been appointed to conduct the geotechnical investigation with the geotechnical contractor.
“The report has been approved, and the Bill of Quantities Specifications have been submitted to Supply Chain Management (SCM) for approval,” he said.
Du Plessis said that in September 2026, the DA asked Daile-Tlabela about when a budget would be made available to fix the sinkhole, but that they had still not received a response more than a month later.
“Motorists, pedestrians, and residents using this road deserve better coordination between provincial and local governments to ensure road safety.”
Photos of the sinkhole
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