The Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) hosted a pivotal roundtable discussion to address the growing sinkhole crisis in municipalities across the province. 

The event, held at Silverstar Casino in Mogale City, brought together experts from various fields to share knowledge and expertise on managing dolomitic land and preventing future sinkhole disasters.

The roundtable came after widespread concerns from residents, businesses, and political parties in various municipalities, who have been severely impacted by sinkholes disrupting their daily lives and operations.

In Tshwane, the Freedom Front Plus has initiated a campaign to petition the city to declare Region 4 in Centurion a disaster zone due to the severe sinkhole issue. 

Currently, the city is dealing with over 64 sinkholes and officials have cited insufficient budget to rehabilitate the affected areas.

Tshwane has allocated R14.7 million to address the sinkhole crisis, but experts estimate that over R180 million is needed to repair more than 60 sinkholes, rendering the current budget woefully inadequate.

Cogta MEC, Jacob Mamabolo, proposed in July that using technology to detect potential leakages could help address the sinkhole crisis in Tshwane and Merafong City. 

The roundtable discussion, initially slated for late July, eventually took place three months later.

Co-led by MEC Jacob Mamabolo and Deputy Minister Dr Namane Dickson Masemola, the event brought together a diverse group of experts, including representatives from the Council for Geoscience (CGS), CSIR, South African Local Government Association, the mining industry, academia, municipalities, engineering professionals, and community leaders.

The department stated that the roundtable represented the province’s first coordinated effort to combine scientific, technical, and policy expertise on managing dolomitic land and preventing sinkhole disasters.

Mamabolo emphasised that the roundtable provided a crucial platform for collaboration, evidence-sharing, and integrating science into disaster risk management. “

He said: “Sinkholes are not just geological events , they are a test of how well we plan, manage, and maintain infrastructure. This roundtable has allowed us to align government, scientists, and engineers behind prevention, preparedness, and resilience.”

The CGC noted that while some sinkholes occur naturally, most are caused by human activities such as aging infrastructure failures, mining, and groundwater extraction, particularly in areas like Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, and Johannesburg.

Masemola highlighted South Africa’s role in globally addressing dolomitic land challenges, emphasising the need for science-driven solutions, strong leadership, and intergovernmental cooperation.

“We must position South Africa as a leader in addressing dolomitic land challenges,” he said.

He instructed the National Disaster Management Centre to enhance its funding, mitigation, and research frameworks, prioritising sinkhole management in national disaster planning.

Experts identified key triggers for sinkholes, including water ponding, underground leaks, and excessive water abstraction. 

To strengthen prevention, they proposed measures such as water loss control, risk-based land-use regulation, and GIS-based hazard mapping. 

The CSIR showcased innovations like Ground Penetrating Radar and geolocation tools for early detection of sinkholes.

The PDMC will compile the roundtable’s outcomes into a technical brief, guiding the disaster management workstream of the local government turnaround strategy.

This, the department said, will ensure a proactive, coordinated, and science-driven approach to addressing dolomitic risks in Gauteng.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

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