Gauteng Hosts Successful Sinkhole Roundtable
The Gauteng Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) hosted a successful roundtable
discussions to address the dolomite and sinkhole challenges in the province.
A engagement involved government sector departments on all spheres, geologists, urban
planners, engineers, community representatives, academia and civil society, will on Thursday, October 9.
The round table discussion was held at the ‘ground zero’ of Gauteng’s sinkhole hotspots in the West Rand’s Mogale City. The area has significant challenges related to dolomite and sinkholes, which pose risks to infrastructure, public safety and the environment.
CoGTA Deputy Minister Dr Namane Dickson Masemola emphasised South Africa’s responsibility to lead globally in addressing dolomitic land challenges through science, leadership, and intergovernmental cooperation.
“We must position South Africa as a leader in addressing dolomitic land challenges,” said Dr Masemola, urging “strong political and administrative leadership to transform discussions into practical solutions and actionable work.”
Experts agreed on the need for stronger alignment between geological science, infrastructure planning, and disaster management legislation to ensure coherent responses and better resource mobilisation.
The Deputy Minister further directed the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) to strengthen its funding, mitigation, and research frameworks, ensuring that sinkhole management receives priority attention in national disaster planning.
“Sinkholes are not just geological events, they are a test of how well we plan, manage, and maintain infrastructure. This roundtable has allowed us to align government, scientists, and engineers behind prevention, preparedness, and resilience,” MEC for CoGTA and Infrastructure Development, Jacob Mamabolo explained.
What causes sinkholes
Sinkholes occur naturally, most are driven by human activity, including ageing infrastructure failures, mining, and groundwater extraction, particularly in Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Joburg and the West Rand.
Using data dating back to the 1940s, it identified water ponding, underground leaks, and excessive water abstraction as key triggers, and proposed measures such as water loss control and risk-based land-use regulation.
Way forward post the round table
“The PDMC will consolidate the outcomes of the roundtable into a technical brief to guide the Disaster Management Workstream of the Local Government Turnaround Strategy, ensuring that Gauteng’s response to dolomitic risks is proactive, coordinated, and science led,” said the provincial department.
The event gathered experts and stakeholders from the Council for Geoscience (CGS), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South African Local Government Association (SALGA), the mining industry, academia, municipalities, engineering professionals, and community leaders.