A Chasm on the Commute: R500 Road Closed Indefinitely After Earth Gives Way

Motorists in the West Rand are facing a major disruption after a massive sinkholeone of three new onesdevoured a critical section of the R500 road between Carletonville and Ventersdorp. The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport has issued an urgent warning: avoid the route entirely. Preliminary assessments indicate over 80% of the road surface has collapsed, rendering it “extremely unsafe.”

The sinkholes formed following heavy rainfall and hail that battered the region last week. Located near Rooipoort Primary School, the largest collapse has forced the immediate closure of the affected section. Technical teams have been dispatched for a full safety evaluation, but the road is expected to remain shut for the foreseeable future.

Official Plea: Heed the Signs, Use Alternatives

Department spokesperson King Mthombeni and MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela have appealed directly to the public. “Motorists are urged to use alternative routes, obey all road closure signs… and exercise extreme caution,” Mthombeni stated. The MEC emphasized that the priority is safety, calling for “heightened vigilance” and full cooperation from road users.

A Familiar Foe in Merafong

For the Merafong area, sinkholes are a recurrent geological hazard. The region, including nearby Khutsong, is underlain by soluble dolomitic rock. According to reports, Khutsong alone has more than 209 recorded sinkholes, which have previously damaged homes and forced the evacuation of schools. Sinkholes form when underground water dissolves this bedrock, creating voids that eventually cause the surface layer to collapse. Human activity, like water pipe leaks, can accelerate the process.

For now, the R500 is a road to nowhere. Commuters and freight operators must plan for significant detours as authorities work to determine the full scale of the damage and a potential remediation plan. The department has promised further updates, but the immediate message is unequivocal: steer clear.

{Source: Citizen}

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