Calls for accountability after Maruleng girl (5) dies in pit toilet
A five-year-old girl dies after falling into an unfinished pit toilet in Hlohlokwe village as the DA demands urgent action against negligent contractors.
HOEDSPRUIT – The DA in Maruleng Local Municipality (MLM) has called for urgent accountability following the tragic death of a five-year-old girl who fell into an incomplete pit toilet in Hlohlokwe village.
Contractor abandoned project
Bontle Ramapuputla died on March 30 after falling into a pit toilet that had allegedly been left unfinished by a contractor appointed by Mopani District Municipality (MDM) during the 2024/25 financial year.
According to the DA, the contractor abandoned the sanitation project before completion, leaving behind dangerous, open structures and building materials at the family’s home.
The party said these conditions exposed residents, particularly children, to serious safety risks.
DA whip accuses municipality of negligence
During a visit to the grieving family, DA whip Portia Moropane described the incident as both devastating and preventable.
She accused the municipality and contractor of negligence, arguing that the tragedy points to broader failures in oversight and service delivery.
“This preventable loss of a young life is indicative of poor project management, the appointment of incompetent contractors and a lack of care for human life,” Moropane said.
Similar tragedies
She further noted that similar incidents have occurred in the Mopani district in recent years, raising concerns about recurring safety failures linked to incomplete infrastructure projects.
In 2018, a toddler died after falling into an unused borehole in Joppe, while in 2019, a six-year-old boy drowned in a trench at the abandoned Giyani bulk water project.
DA demands criminal accountability
The DA has written to CoGHSTA MEC Basikopo Makamu calling for an urgent investigation into the incident and for those responsible to face criminal accountability.
The party also demanded immediate action to secure open pits, trenches and unused manholes linked to incomplete municipal projects, warning that inaction could cost more lives.
Muni says contractor was terminated
In response, MDM spokesperson Odas Ngobeni expressed condolences to the family and said the contractor had already been terminated for poor performance, the municipality is now engaging National Treasury to blacklist the company.
He added that a new contractor will be appointed, project monitoring strengthened and safety measures prioritised.
The incident has again highlighted the dangers of incomplete infrastructure and the need for accountability.
