Khutsong sinkhole hazard persists two months after allegations of municipal corruption
It has still not been fixed, despite the fact that money to do so has allegedly been paid out for than 6 months ago already.
A sinkhole just across the road from a primary school in Khutsong is still open two months after a criminal case was opened against the municipality over it.
A former opposition party councillor, Happy Lefakane, opened the case against the Merafong City Local Municipality in July after they allegedly paid millions for work that was never done.
Through enquiries and gathering information, Lefakane discovered documents showing that R5m was paid to a company from Polokwane to rehabilitate the sinkhole across the road from Hlanganani Primary School in Khutsong Ext 3.
The municipality paid the money on January 30 this year. Lefakane opened a case with the SAPS and later received confirmation that it was taken over by the Hawks. A national television channel also recently reported about the alleged corruption regarding the sinkhole.
This sinkhole caved in during 2021 due to an ongoing sewage leak and is a huge danger, not only to the learners from the school who have to walk past it every day, but also to other children and pedestrians from the area.
According to documents in the Herald’s possession, the money was paid by the Infrastructure Investment Planning Unit (PMU) in the office of the municipal manager, Dumisani Mabuza.
The municipality received the money from the Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs after it asked for urgent funds to fix the sewer system in Khutsong.
The municipality’s marketing and communications manager, Temba Fezani, did not respond to questions about the matter on Monday.
