A massive pothole in Sunnyside Road in Amalinda has become a major headache for motorists.
The pothole, which spans two lanes at a junction in the road, has become a traffic hazard as drivers swerve into oncoming traffic in an effort to avoid it.
The pothole is situated near the entrance to Fath Road, about a kilometre from Haven Hills Cemetery.
Resident Mzukisi Myoyikwa, who lives directly opposite the pothole, said a water pipe burst around three months ago, which eroded the tar and caused the massive hole in the road.
While Buffalo City Metro officials came out to repair the burst pipe, no repairs were ever carried out to the road.
With high traffic volumes along the route Myoyikwa said the hole was becoming bigger and deeper each day.
“That hole is deep. It makes driving the road really difficult,” he said.
“Sometimes at night we hear cars screeching to a halt so they can avoid hitting it.”
Motorist Lukho Mtoli said using Sunnyside Road to get to work was a short cut, but it was one he feared would cost him a tyre.
“The hole looks a bit better now – it looks like someone may have filled it with sand or something.
“But after it rains all that will wash out and we’ll be back to square one,” he said.
The pothole was not visible at night, he added.
“I’m sure many motorists damage tyres crashing into it.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if there was an accident here one day caused by cars trying to avoid it.”
Dispatch readers commenting on the paper’s Facebook page said the road was in a bad state.
James Louw said: “It’s been there for a long time and its going to cause accidents.
“It looks like a firepool when it rains.”
Haven Hills Ratepayers’ Association chairman Michael Manona said he was aware of the pothole and had attempted to have it sorted out several times.
“BCM did come out to inspect the site and they said they would be back to fix it permanently once they had the correct materials.
“They never came back, but I have been visiting them regularly to try and have the road fixed,” he said.
Questions sent to BCM spokesman Thandy Matebese were not answered at the time of writing. — zisandan@dispatch.co.za
Fury over ‘firepool’ pothole
The pothole, which spans two lanes at a junction in the road, has become a traffic hazard as drivers swerve into oncoming traffic in an effort to avoid it.
The pothole is situated near the entrance to Fath Road, about a kilometre from Haven Hills Cemetery.
Resident Mzukisi Myoyikwa, who lives directly opposite the pothole, said a water pipe burst around three months ago, which eroded the tar and caused the massive hole in the road.
While Buffalo City Metro officials came out to repair the burst pipe, no repairs were ever carried out to the road.
With high traffic volumes along the route Myoyikwa said the hole was becoming bigger and deeper each day.
“That hole is deep. It makes driving the road really difficult,” he said.
“Sometimes at night we hear cars screeching to a halt so they can avoid hitting it.”
Motorist Lukho Mtoli said using Sunnyside Road to get to work was a short cut, but it was one he feared would cost him a tyre.
“The hole looks a bit better now – it looks like someone may have filled it with sand or something.
“But after it rains all that will wash out and we’ll be back to square one,” he said.
The pothole was not visible at night, he added.
“I’m sure many motorists damage tyres crashing into it.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if there was an accident here one day caused by cars trying to avoid it.”
Dispatch readers commenting on the paper’s Facebook page said the road was in a bad state.
James Louw said: “It’s been there for a long time and its going to cause accidents.
“It looks like a firepool when it rains.”
Haven Hills Ratepayers’ Association chairman Michael Manona said he was aware of the pothole and had attempted to have it sorted out several times.
“BCM did come out to inspect the site and they said they would be back to fix it permanently once they had the correct materials.
“They never came back, but I have been visiting them regularly to try and have the road fixed,” he said.
Questions sent to BCM spokesman Thandy Matebese were not answered at the time of writing. — zisandan@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos