Three new sinkholes formed along the R500 outside Carletonville after large parts of the West Rand experienced heavy rainfall and hail over the past week.
The sinkholes are located on the route between Carletonville and Ventersdorp, only one kilometre from Rooipoort Primary School.
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) urges motorists to exercise extreme caution, especially during the rainy season when sinkholes fill with water and rapidly expand.
The Merafong Local Municipality (Carletonville, Fochville, Wedela) has already partially closed the road, and drivers are advised to use alternative routes, such as the N14, to reach Carletonville.
The area around the R500 is known for its dolomitic soil, so the formation of additional sinkholes cannot be ruled out.
The Freedom Front Plus recommended that the Municipality close a larger section of the R500, as it is dangerous for motorists to use the road.
Merafong has not yet indicated whether funds will be allocated to rehabilitate the sinkholes.
Sinkholes are a common occurrence in Merafong. Khutsong alone has more than 209 sinkholes, resulting in damage to homes, the closure of a day-care centre and the evacuation of classrooms at a school.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi visited the area in October and is working with the national government and the Municipality to compile a disaster-management plan to address the problem.
The Freedom Front Plus feels that stakeholders are dragging their feet while sinkholes continue to appear across Merafong, and the government has, after years, still done nothing to tackle the emergency.
The DA will keep pressuring the Municipality and provincial government to implement a disaster-management plan to rehabilitate sinkholes.
🚨 URGENT TRAFFIC ALERT ON THE R500 ROAD SINKHOLE IN CARLETONVILLE!!!
A massive sinkhole near the R500 Road in Carletonville has collapsed over 80% of the road.
THE ROAD IS NOT SAFE FOR TRAVEL‼️
🔄 Please use alternative routes.
🚧 Obey road closure signs.
🚔 Follow… pic.twitter.com/MxEmE3RASc– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) December 8, 2025
