The Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) recently held a first of its kind roundtable on the management of sinkholes and dolomite.
“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,” said MEC Jacob Mamabolo.
Occur naturally
This as the Council for Geoscience (CGS) reported that while some sinkholes occur naturally, most are driven by human activity, including ageing infrastructure failures, mining, and groundwater extraction, particularly in Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, and Johannesburg.
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.
The session brought together 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.
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.”
Coordinated effort
Held in Mogale City, the roundtable marked the first coordinated effort in the province to consolidate scientific, technical, and policy perspectives on the management of dolomitic land and the prevention of sinkhole-related disasters.
The CSIR showcased technological innovations such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), and geolocation tools for early detection, and urged the creation of a centralised GIS-based data repository and municipal capacity-building to improve coordinated, science-led risk management.
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.
Priority
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.
“The PDMC [Provincial Disaster Management Centre] 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.
