Sinkhole closes North West road

2012-02-27 10:23

Mahikeng - The road between Marikana and Rustenburg had to be closed at the weekend because of a sinkhole, the North West department of human settlements and public safety said on Monday.

"The 500mm hole that occurred in front of the Bleskop mine is expected to grow bigger, hence motorists are advised that the road is expected to be closed for about a month," spokesperson Lesiba Kgwele said.

Mine management had appointed pointsmen to direct traffic on the D108 around the sinkhole as there was no alternative route, he said.

Kgwele said it was thought that the hole might have been caused by copper cable thieves trying to dig their way out of the mine, but that this had not been confirmed.

"North West road traffic management authorities expect mine engineers to conduct a technical survey on Monday to ascertain the extent of the threat and necessary interventions," he said.

- SAPA