Residents have expressed concerns about the sunken ground at the Springs Clinic, which is worsening.
The pavement directly in front of the clinic’s entrance has been closed off with a fence. However, patients say they fear the visible damage may be a sign of a deeper issue, which raises concerns about safety on the premises.
One of the patients, who asked not to be named, said they first noticed the issue last year and have seen it progressively deteriorate.
“Back then, it was not that bad. Then we started seeing the pavement sinking slowly. Last year, when I was coming to the clinic, I realised it was worse than before. When we came back in January, I noticed it had gotten deeper,” the patient said.
They added that the worsening condition has left them feeling uneasy about returning to the clinic.
Springs Clinic patients expressed their concern over the sunken ground next to the entrance. Photo: Buhle Matsoele
“I’m even scared to come here. I don’t think I will come here ever again,” the patient said.
They also called on authorities to urgently address the issue, highlighting the risk it poses not only to patients but also to clinic staff.
“We would like whoever is responsible for fixing this to help the community and the staff because the staff members have to come here every day, and we are afraid for their safety.”
The patient further raised concerns about vulnerable people who rely on the clinic, particularly the elderly.
“There are elderly people who come here who are frail. We don’t know what could happen next, and if we ever had to evacuate, I fear for them because they wouldn’t be able to move fast enough. It’s really affecting everyone who comes to the clinic,” they concluded.
City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini confirmed the city is aware of the sinkhole and that it was first reported by a building contractor in March 2012 during construction at the clinic.
A patient of Springs Clinic, Rachel Mtisi is among those concerned about the situation. Photo: Buhle Matsoele
He also said an engineering firm was appointed that same year to evaluate and remediate an old mining shaft.
“Following a recurrence, the department has proactively conducted the geotechnical assessment to delineate the possible root cause and recommendations to mitigate possible risk on the March 7, 2025 and recently on March 13, 2026 after subsidence was reported in front of the clinic,” he said.
Responding to a question about the measures that have been taken to ensure the safety of patients and staff at the facility, Dlamini said the sunken area was fenced off on March 11. He said there are plans in place to repair the damaged area but did not provide a timeline for these repairs.
“The work will be undertaken soon,” he said.
According to Dlamini, the Enterprise Project Management Office (EPMO) and Real Estate Departments is responsible for the maintenance of infrastructure at the clinic.
“To ensure consistency, it is recommended that the engineering firm that undertook the rehabilitation work must be consulted as a matter of urgency to determine the cause of the settlement observed and provide recommendations to arrest the settlement and reinstate a functioning stormwater system,” Dlamini concluded.
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