Residents of Carletonville, located west of Johannesburg, are once again voicing their frustration over the ongoing sinkhole crisis that has been threatening their homes for years. Many of the houses in the area are built on dolomite rock, a geological feature that is prone to sinkholes. A particularly harrowing incident occurred recently when a local residentβs home collapsed while he and his family were inside. βI was sitting with my whole family when the house started to collapse. We quickly evacuated, and by the time I reversed my second car from the garage, the walls came crashing down,β said the resident, who wishes to remain anonymous. Despite reporting the issue months ago, the family received little to no response until it was too late.
In the aftermath of the collapse, local authorities offered the affected families temporary relief in the form of food, including fat cakes, KFC, and chicken feet, as well as alternative accommodation in the form of RDP houses. However, residents are not satisfied with this response. βThey came with food, but thatβs the least of my worries. All I care about is this home that I built for my family,β the distressed resident explained. Many Carletonville residents feel that their concerns are being dismissed, as they are demanding real compensation and proper solutions to the sinkhole crisis rather than temporary measures.
Merafongβs Deputy Mayor, Mohomotsi Sello, acknowledged the severity of the situation, explaining that the municipality has already begun rehabilitation efforts on some sinkholes, including a large one near the Methodist Church in Ward 10. He assured the public that a contractor has been appointed to address the expanding sinkholes, with work scheduled to start next week. βWeβve seen that the size of the sinkholes is growing, and the initial allocation of houses may not be enough. Weβre awaiting a technical report to guide us on how to proceed,β Sello said. The municipality has set aside a budget of R12 million to address the sinkhole issue, but Sello admitted that this may not be sufficient given the scale of the problem.
While the municipality has offered temporary housing options for affected families, the response has not been well-received by the Carletonville community, who feel that their long-term needs are being overlooked. βWe are doing what we can to save lives, ensuring that families are relocated before theyβre at risk of being swallowed by the sinkholes,β Sello explained. However, many residents remain unconvinced, insisting that compensation and permanent housing solutions are their top priority. As the sinkhole problem continues to escalate, Carletonville residents are demanding more from local authorities to ensure their safety and security in the face of this ongoing crisis.