Here are four summary points regarding this article:
- New Sinkhole Formation – A new sinkhole is developing on Drakensberg Drive, creating a growing hazard for motorists. The road surface is also lifting in certain areas, raising concerns over infrastructure stability.
- Recurring Infrastructure Failures – This is not the first time Drakensberg Drive has suffered structural issues. A similar problem was reported in September 2024, following municipal repairs to a collapsed sewage pipe.
- Councillor Responds – Councillor Bebsie Cronje, upon being informed of the situation, committed to escalating the matter to the relevant municipal department, suggesting that ongoing sewage issues could be a contributing factor.
- Municipality Yet to Respond – Despite inquiries, Newcastle Municipality has not yet provided an official statement regarding the situation, leaving residents questioning what immediate steps will be taken to prevent further deterioration.
Motorists navigating Newcastle’s Drakensberg Drive are now confronted with a developing road hazard that could pose severe risks to those who rely on this vital route.
This comes as a new sinkhole is gradually forming, creating an increasingly dangerous situation, while sections of the tarmac are breaking away from the pavement and lifting.
This concerning discovery was made by a resident of Pioneer Park, who happened upon the deteriorating road conditions while walking to the Pick n Pay shopping centre.
“I do not live far from the shop and decided to walk instead of driving. When I was passing the flats that are behind the shopping centre on the opposite side of the road, I noticed a rather large hole forming in the road, as well as the tar lifting off the road. This is totally unacceptable as the Newcastle Municipality not only tarred the small section a while ago but were meant to ensure this does not happen again,” stated the resident, who chose to remain anonymous.
It should be highlighted this is not the first instance of a sinkhole forming along Drakensberg Drive, highlighting an ongoing problem with the road’s structural integrity. As previously reported by Newcastillian News in September 2024, another concerned resident took to social media to draw attention to a pothole that had begun forming in the left-hand lane adjacent to the shopping complex where the Pick n Pay Family store is situated.
At that time, the precise cause of the sinkhole was undetermined. However, it was noted that the problem emerged not long after the Newcastle Municipality undertook repairs to a collapsed sewage pipe in the area.
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Although the road was subsequently repaired, and the Municipality recently re-tarred the affected section, the new sinkhole has now surfaced in the right-hand lane, leading towards the Allen Street intersection. Disturbingly, the tar is lifting at the same location once again, and a nearby manhole is continuously releasing water.
This development raises a critical question: what immediate steps are being taken to address the situation before it escalates further?
Newcastle Municipality’s Councillor Bebsie Cronje stated that she had not been informed about the worsening state of the road. However, upon inspecting the damage, she assured that she would escalate the matter to the relevant department to ensure appropriate action is taken.
In examining the possible causes behind the road’s deterioration, Councillor Cronje stressed that the issue was unlikely to be a result of poor workmanship by the Municipality but was instead linked to other contributing factors. “The recent rains could have been a contributing factor, but there is a collapsed sewage line in the area, and this could be why the road is now breaking,” she explained.
Addressing the broader infrastructure challenges in the area, Councillor Cronje acknowledged that Newcastle has been grappling with severe sewage-related problems, which continue to impact both road conditions and residential areas. “I have had two homes on Zircon Avenue that were flooded with sewage, and we are really battling with this issue,” she added.
In an effort to gain further clarity on the matter, Newcastillian News reached out to the Newcastle Municipality’s Communications Unit for an official response. However, at the time of publication, no comment had been provided.
With Drakensberg Drive once again facing significant road damage—marked by a newly forming sinkhole and lifting tarmac—the safety of motorists remains a growing concern. What are your thoughts on the situation? Share your opinions in the comment section below.
