Pretoria - Businesses in Centurion and Laudium who have for months lost revenue of between 50% and 70% profit can finally breathe a sigh of relief as repair work to some of the City’s major sinkholes finally head for completion.
Executive Mayor Solly Msimanga yesterday visited the two areas which have since April this year been plagued by sinkholes on some of the areas major roads following heavy floods in the city.
Phillip Lourens who owns a filling station on the corner of Jean Avenue and Gerhard Street in Centurion, said he was relieved that the construction work was finally complete.
Lourens said many of the businesses near and around the busy intersection were severely impacted by the sinkhole.
He said business declined from time to time and it was almost an economic catastrophe.
Executive mayor Solly Msimanga inspects where the sinkhole was in Jean Avenue. Video: Goitsemang Tlhabye
“We are definitely relieved that at long last it’s finished. Business has its ups and downs and its all about how you deal with it.”
Msimanga said that Jean Avenue had been closed for almost two years and as work commenced another sinkhole developed.
“I’ve been assured by the team who fixed the road that it is now one of the safest roads in the area because the technology that has been used here guarantees nothing should form again.
“It has cost the city over R25 million and that’s what was needed to fix this even though it appeared small.
"We’re still going to engage with businesses and do whatever we can to help them advertise and bring life back to their businesses.”
Jean Avenue will be officially reopened by the mayor tomorrow morning.