Residents of the Xhosa Section in Khutsong are raising alarm over the Merafong City Local Municipality’s failure to address persistent water leaks, which they say are putting their lives and homes at serious risk.

Checha Street residents, in particular, have endured a devastating year. One end of the street was hit by a massive sinkhole that swallowed an entire house, while another sinkhole further down the street has caused severe structural damage to nearby homes.

As the crisis deepened, the Gauteng Department of Health was forced to close the Khutsong West Clinic, situated diagonally across from the first sinkhole, citing safety concerns. The cause of the sinkholes? Ongoing leaks from municipal water and sewerage infrastructure.

Despite these clear warning signs, many residents accuse the municipality of ignoring repeated complaints and failing to take urgent preventative measures.

“I have been reporting this problem to the municipality for months. Officials came to look and then left without doing anything,” says Portia Mpanye, who lives at 7376 Checha Street, close to both known sinkholes. She pointed out bubbling water emerging from beneath the tar road in front of her house — suspected to be yet another developing underground leak. The water continues to stream down the street, further compromising the soil beneath.

Despite receiving a reference number and following up multiple times, Mpanye says the problem remains unresolved.

Welile Fihla, a local opposition councillor, also identified another active leak around the corner from Mpanye’s home, where water is visibly streaming from the sidewalk.

Nearby, Florence Mthimkulu reports yet another leak on her pavement. “It started as a small leak, but two days later it was worse,” she told the Herald.

The Herald sent detailed queries to Merafong’s marketing and communications manager, Temba Fezani, on Monday. By the time of publication, no response had been received.