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Gautrain at a station
Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has issued a stern warning to residents, emphasising that those who damage Gautrain infrastructure will face serious consequences.
Her statement came during an inspection of an underground tunnel that was compromised by a private property owner drilling a borehole above it, causing water and soil seepage.
The incident has forced the suspension of Gautrain services between Park Station and Rosebank. MEC Diale-Tlabela urges residents to respect the city’s by-laws and avoid actions that could jeopardize critical public infrastructure.
Many Johannesburg residents have turned to boreholes due to the city’s ongoing water crisis. However, one property owner’s attempt to secure water access has created a major problem, costing Gautrain money and resources.
“This is lawlessness. It’s very illegal to drill and do any other things. The municipality must give you a go-ahead, and in this case, it looks like they didn’t follow the process. Had they done so, we could have alerted them on where to drill, but not to this extent,” says Diale-Tlabela.
Water and soil seeped through the hole, and it is alleged that the area was later sealed with concrete to prevent further damage. The timeline for repairs remains unclear.
“There will be service disruptions between Rosebank and Park Station. However, we will transport passengers from Rosebank to various areas to complete their trips while engineers finalize a solution,” Diale-Tlabela adds.
The damage has left hundreds of commuters inconvenienced, with investigations still underway to determine the full extent of the problem.
MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela together with HoD Dr Thulani Mdadane & Gautrain CEO Tshepo Kgobe visiting the Gautrain shaft to assess the damage caused by a drilling activity at a residential place which led to disruptions of Gautrain services between Rosebank & Park Stations pic.twitter.com/UKhfnmjjPv
— GP Roads and Transport (@GPDRT_) February 16, 2025
