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There are 148 families in Khutsong, Merafong Local Municipality, affected by sinkholes and facing an uncertain future because the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) has no plan to relocate them.

These families must be relocated from their current homes because of the sinkhole plaguing the area, which has also affected Relebogile High School, where a sinkhole appeared in the school premises in February.

The concerned residents have informed the DA that the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) have not yet engaged them about the proposed relocation plan.

This is unacceptable because the residents should be adequately informed and provided with sufficient time to relocate.

Furthermore, it is the responsibility of the GPG to engage with residents on their proposed relocation to ensure that they reach an amicable decision.

The DA proposes that the government must do the following as part of the relocation process:
1. Educate residents about the dangers of sinkholes.
2. Engage the residents on the issues of relocation on how it will change their lives.
3. The relocation process must be transparent, and the migration plan should contain timelines.

The DA will monitor the proposed relocation process to ensure the residents are well-informed and agree to the relocation plan for their own safety.

Issued by Evert Du Plessis MPL - DA Spokesperson for Human Settlement