While climatologists warn that we might experience a particularly dry summer because of the El Niño weather effect, the Merafong City Local Municipality has made no visible steps to sort out the sinkholes at two of the area’s reservoirs, which are crucial infrastructure for storing water.

The Herald previously reported that a sinkhole formed at the Khutsong reservoir in January this year.

Although the sinkhole was originally only about a metre in diameter, it is now at least five times bigger. It has grown to such an extent that it swallowed several of the yellow barricades that have been placed around it.

It is not known how deep this sinkhole currently is, as it is too dangerous to get close to.

There are also several other sinkholes just outside the reservoir’s fence.

Meanwhile, nothing has been done about the sinkhole at the Carletonville reservoir just across the 007 shopping complex. Although this sinkhole was already reported in 2023, nothing has been done about it. It is situated next to the pipeline leading from the reservoir to the town.

Although this sinkhole has not grown significantly during the past year, the ground between the sinkhole and the Rand Water pump station has started to sag.

The municipality has not provided answers on when these sinkholes will be filled.

It has previously acknowledged that neither of the two reservoirs has any water in them.