• Roodepoort worker almost fell in mining tunnel after tar gave way while he was walking
• On inspecting the hole, it was discovered that the hole was not a pothole but a mining tunnel.
• The Johannesburg Roads Agency has closed the section of road to allow repairs to continue

South Africans are used to pothole-ridden roads, but now a new worry is emerging.

While illegal mining continues to make headlines, some of its consequences affect ordinary citizens.

An employee of a scrap metal dealer in Roodepoort has discovered first-hand how dangerous illegal mining can be.

A worker also falls into a tunnel

The worker was crossing the road to get to an unloading truck when he crossed the paved road.

His boss, Chris Fourie, said the worker was surprised, but the biggest surprise came when they looked into the hole.

“He was a little shocked that a hole suddenly appeared under his feet. He came into the office and alerted me, and when we looked at the hole we realized it was about two meters deep. We also saw a shovel and a pickaxe at the bottom of the hole,” he said.

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He said a few minutes later, when they looked again, the shovel and pickaxe had been moved.

Upon closer inspection, they realized that it was not a hole but a tunnel running under the road towards a mine.

Road closed for repairs

The police were called to the scene and, in turn, called the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA).

The JRA then closed a section of the road to allow repairs, which affected businesses in the area.

Source: In Brief News