Geologists are sounding the alarm over the increasing number of sinkholes forming across Gauteng, warning that neglected and leaking infrastructure is accelerating the rate of collapse to dangerous and unnatural levels.
Areas such as Centurion, Khutsong, and Ekurhuleni are among the hardest hit, where gaping sinkholes continue to pose serious risks to both lives and property.
Despite the growing threat, cash-strapped municipalities remain unable to provide clear timelines on when the situation will be brought under control.
Experts say ageing water and sewage systems, along with poor maintenance, are contributing significantly to the instability of the ground in these areas, worsening the already dire situation.
With no immediate solutions in sight, residents in affected communities are left vulnerable as the ground beneath them continues to give way.