The Merafong municipality has warned that urgent action is needed to save Khutsong from a potential sinkhole disaster.
”The geological condition in Khutsong is a challenge that warrants urgent intervention … to avert a potential disaster,” municipal spokesperson Seabo Gaeganelwe said in a statement on Monday.
A 1997 survey commissioned by the municipality found that 90% of Khutsong fell within extremely high-risk zones. It effectively meant that 90% of Khutsong ”is not and was never suitable for human settlement”, according to Gaeganelwe.
Khutsong residents live in fear of repetition of the August 3 1964 disaster in which 376 miners and a family of five disappeared into a sinkhole in Carletonville and were never found again. A national disaster threatens, and residents fear losing lives and property.
Phanuel Caiya, head of public relations of Merafong municipality, said: ”Parts of Khutsong are at low risk, and we are in the process of building houses and relocating those at risk.”
He told the Mail & Guardian Online on Monday that an 18 000-unit housing project was approved. Phase one, the building of 2 000 units will be implemented in a month’s time.
About 3 600 formal households, 15 000 informal and 6 500 ”backyard” households have to be relocated, as well. The total cost of this resettlement was estimated in 2004 at R1,5-billion — R2,2-billion on current values, including community facilities and bulk services.
A five-year resettlement plan had been drawn up and submitted to the different spheres of government in 2003, Gaeganelwe said.