Ratepayer worried about sinking yard in Oberholzer
A private company that the problems are caused by the municipality's leaking infrastructure.
Although it has been years since an Oberholzer homeowner contacted the municipality about their deteriorating pipes causing sinking ground in his backyard, he still awaits help or feedback.
According to Mr Chris de Beer, who lives on Eggo Jan Street, he noticed the ground in his backyard gradually sinking since the beginning of 2021. He contacted the Merafong City Local Municipality at the end of February.
“I contacted Mrs Moyo, and she visited us. She said the Water and Sanitation Department would come out for an inspection,” he says.
Numerous municipal visits followed, including one from the late town engineer, Mr Gerhard Dirker. According to De Beer, Dirker promised in March of that year that the municipality would give him a report. Despite several visits, including from the current executive mayor, Ms Nozuko Best, he has not yet received formal feedback from the municipality. A geologist from the Council of Geosciences in Pretoria has also inspected the De Beer’s property and advised them not to water the garden.
When he did not get feedback from the municipality, De Beer hired a private company to assess his yard in August of 2021.
The company, JDC Leak Detection and Plumbing from Vanderbijlpark, responded.
“We found the drain had collapsed around the maintenance hole due to the municipal mainline, which has partial structural cracks and leaks water from the line running horizontally with the yard sewers.
Despite numerous complaints and pleas for help, no authorities seem ready to help the family.
On Monday, De Beer showed the Herald that eight cavities had already formed in his yard.
“I am extremely concerned because my yard is in line with the sinkhole that formed at Laerskool Dagbreek in the past, and the yards where they had to demolish houses on Ida Street due to sinkholes.
“We have lived in this house for 30 years, but I cannot even sell it because of these problems,” says De Beer.
On Monday, the Herald took the issues to the municipality’s marketing and communications manager, Mr Temba Fezani, but received no response by printing time.
