De Beers to buy Bultfontein Road: Big Hole turning CBD into ghost town
Deserted buildings have turned the area around the Big Hole into a ghost town.
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo / DFA
TAXI operators and business owners have fiercely opposed the proposed sale of Bultfontein Road to De Beers for R12,000, calling the deal a “slap in the face” for Kimberley.
Once the sale is finalised, more sections of the road will be permanently closed to the public, including parts of the historic tramway route.
While the exodus of most businesses near the Big Hole has left the area resembling a ghost town, the few remaining operations along Bultfontein Road face an increasingly difficult predicament.
“No one has informed us that the road will be closed. We cannot sell our properties because the area is crime-ridden. Where are we supposed to move to?” business owners asked.
“People urinate in the streets and sewage is flowing down the roads. We have to be escorted home by security when we close our shops due to fears of being robbed. We have limited our trading hours because the street lights never get fixed. Areas around the Big Hole have become dumping sites.”
The perimeter of the Big Hole was fenced off in 2024 due to safety concerns stemming from ground movement and soil erosion.
Despite the precautionary closure of the road, barricaded sections of the road are still being used by taxis, whose operators say they have nowhere else to pick up and drop off passengers.
Taxi drivers expressed frustration and unhappiness over the situation.
“Sol Plaatje is selling our livelihoods for R12,000. We have been struggling to make ends meet since the Covid-19 pandemic. De Beers must compensate us, as promised, and allow us to continue making use of Bultfontein Road,” they said.
A local taxi operator claimed they were promised a once-off payment and that each taxi association would receive two vehicles – but none of these promises materialised.
Areas around the Big Hole have been declared no-go zones.
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo / DFA
EFF councillor Pontsho Mocwana said it was an insult to consider selling the road “for a pittance”.
“De Beers stripped the city of its mineral wealth and generated billions of rand in profits before abandoning the city,” Mocwana pointed out.
ACDP councillor Roddy Loff questioned the legal implications for businesses that were instructed to close when the first road closure was enforced.
Northern Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nocci) CEO Sharon Steyn welcomed the long-overdue intervention to secure the “disaster area” after 17 years, but criticised the lack of consultation with affected businesses.
“The closure of the road will negatively impact the remaining businesses and SMMEs that are still operating in the area. Other businesses were previously forced to leave the area without any form of compensation,” she said.
She also questioned whether the proposed development of a theme park around the Big Hole, similar to Gold Reef City, was still on the cards.
“If development goes ahead, will the businesses on the closed road receive preference or compensation?”
Taxis continue to park near the Big Hole, which was fenced off due to safety concerns along Bultfontein Road.
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo / DFA
Council approves the sale of Bultfontein road
The Sol Plaatje municipal council approved the sale of Bultfontein Road on June 24, following discussions over possible threats to residents, businesses and surrounding properties.
It was noted that, according to expert studies conducted by De Beers, it was recommended that a permanent concrete stormwater diversion be built around the fenced area to manage surface water.
It was indicated that affected property owners would be consulted once the road closure was finalised, and alternative access routes would be provided. Plans are also in place to construct a new route once Bultfontein Road is decommissioned.
According to the council, the proposal aims to prevent municipal stormwater run-off from entering the Big Hole, prevent further soil instability, and preserve the Big Hole area as a world heritage site and tourism attraction.
It intends to prohibit taxis from using the road as a holding area, as well as restrict access to the pit crest area to prevent trespassers from falling down pit highwalls.
It added that it aimed to stop vandalism of the pit slope by monitoring equipment on critical parts of the pit crest.
“Unsustainable levels of vandalism of equipment and associated infrastructure in recent years have impacted the De Beers Group’s ability to provide early warning of the onset of larger-scale slope instability, should evacuation of the Bultfontein Road area become necessary.”
The council pointed out that the alienation of portions of Bultfontein Road would be in the interest of Sol Plaatje Municipality and the general public.
Taxi operators are parking their vehicles in side streets near the Big Hole.
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo / DFA
De Beers wants Bultfontein to ensure safety
De Beers South Africa vice-president of communications Jackie Mapiloko stated that the conditional approval of the application to acquire a portion of Bultfontein Road would assist in addressing public safety concerns related to the stability of the sidewalls of the Big Hole.
“De Beers is currently reviewing the council’s recent resolution, in preparation for the submission of a formal response to the municipality,” said Mapiloko.
She added that De Beers has conducted geotechnical monitoring of the Big Hole for nearly 30 years.
“The related findings have consistently indicated ground instability near Bultfontein Road, with increasing risk of erosion and sidewall breakback. These risks have escalated over time, prompting serious concerns for the safety of residents, pedestrians and businesses.”
Mapiloko indicated that safety interventions included the partial completion of a permanent stormwater diversion concrete wall, the establishment of a secure exclusion zone to mitigate geotechnical risks, and engineered solutions to stabilise the eastern perimeter of the Big Hole.
“The municipality's approval will ensure community safety and the preservation of Kimberley’s most iconic landmark. De Beers acknowledges the municipality’s support and collaborative engagement over many years on this matter. All stakeholder concerns will be sufficiently addressed.”
Taxi operators have expressed their unhappiness over the proposed closure of additional sections of Bultfontein Road.
Image: Sandi Kwon Hoo / DFA
No formal agreement yet
Sol Plaatje Municipality spokesperson Thabo Mothibi confirmed that a meeting took place on June 18, where De Beers provided an update on its proposed plans to stabilise the Big Hole.
“They indicated the need for additional space to implement geotechnical solutions, including portions of Bultfontein Road,” said Mothibi.
“De Beers also confirmed that they are conducting studies related to the relocation of bulk water and sanitation services that may be affected by the proposed stabilisation works.”
He pointed out that no formal agreement had been concluded yet, although discussions were ongoing.
“The municipality will communicate further as the processes unfold. The cost of acquisition, transfer of property, matters related to compensation, business buy-outs, future access, and road closure remain under negotiation. No final decisions have been taken at this stage.”