PICS | R500 VANISHES! Giant sinkholes swallow 80% of Carletonville road

Sinkhole

Johannesburg – The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport has warned motorists to avoid the R500 near Carletonville after heavy rainfall caused three large sinkholes, destroying over 80% of the road surface.

The damaged section — located between Carletonville and Ventersdorp near Rooipoort Primary School — has been closed while technical teams conduct a full safety assessment.

“Preliminary assessments indicate that over 80% of the road surface has caved in, making the route extremely unsafe. The affected section has been closed off while technical teams are being dispatched to conduct a full safety evaluation,” the department said in a statement.

It added: “Motorists are urged to use alternative routes, obey all road closure signs in the interest of safety and exercise extreme caution when approaching or travelling in and around the area.”

Officials, including MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, have urged the public to use alternative routes and obey closure signs due to the serious risks posed.

“We urge all road users to avoid the R500 Road near the sinkhole site. The collapse poses a serious risk, and the priority is the safety of motorists as they continue to assess the full extent of the damage.”

“We ask the public to cooperate fully with authorities and make use of alternative routes until further notice,” the MEC said.

Sinkholes are common in Merafong, with over 200 recorded in Khutsong alone, typically caused by underground rock erosion accelerated by water or human activity.

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Compiled by Betha Madhomu

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