A growing sinkhole that has been ignored by the Merafong City Local Municipality has now begun to damage municipal infrastructure.

A concerned resident, Mzwandile Kheswa, notified the Herald in March 2025 about the growing hole that seemed to be a sinkhole near the road between Welverdiend and Khutsong. The Herald immediately notified the municipality, which has not done anything about the problem since.

Although the hole was still more than a metre away from the fence that separated Khutsong South from a large stormwater canal, it later reached under the fence as well.

When the Herald went to check again on May 8, the sinkhole had grown a lot. A section of the concrete fence on top of it has collapsed into the sinkhole.

The sinkhole has also clearly spread under the concrete lining of the stormwater canal. If the sinkhole grows further, water from the canal will start pouring into it, which will create even more problems.

“I am despondent because the municipality does not do anything about this hole. People also come here to throw rubbish in it, which makes our yards and houses stink,” complains the resident who lives closest to the sinkhole, Yvonne Morekudi.

The Herald again took the issue to the municipality’s communications and marketing manager, Temba Fezani, but received no response by printing time.