Joburg residents urged to get permission before drilling boreholes
A section of the Gautrain line came to a standstill after a borehole was dug into one of its tunnels.
Soil and water seeps into the Gautrain tunnel after a borehole was drilled without a permit. Photo: X/Koena_za
The City of Johannesburg calls on residents to apply for permission before drilling boreholes.
This was after the Park Station-Rosebank section of the Gauteng line came to a standstill after a borehole was drilled into one of its tunnels.
The effects of illegal drilling on the Gautrain infrastructure. This is criminal. pic.twitter.com/KgFsMIZ9Y7
— Koena Moabelo (@Koena_za) February 16, 2025
The Gautrain is currently running bus services between the two stations.
RELATED: Gautrain increases buses for Park and Rosebank stations following service disruption
According to the municipality, boreholes can only be used for specific purposes defined by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS).
Restrictions can be imposed on drilling in certain areas to protect the environment or preserve water resources.
Applications require comment from the municipality’s engineering department and environmental infrastructure service department.
You will also require a license to use water from a borehole (depending on the amount of water extracted).
“There may be hidden infrastructure that could be damaged or even a sinkhole appearing,” says the City.
“… residents must be cautioned against making uninformed decisions which can be very costly and they must avoid being exploited by unscrupulous companies in the quest to secure a constant water supply.”