The Democratic Alliance has welcomed the Hawks' probe into the missing R5 million for Merafong sinkholes.

HAWKS INVESTIGATING

DA Member of Parliament Nicholas Gotsell said the reports suggest that the Hawks are said to have been at Merafong Municipality on Monday, with regards to the missing R5 million.

"The DA welcomes the Hawks' investigation into alleged mismanagement and possible corruption at Merafong Municipality and calls on police bosses to prioritise the finalisation thereof."

Gotsell said whilst many Gauteng learners last week returned to schools mismanaged by a dysfunctional, sinking ANC-led Gauteng government, the children in Khutsong returned to an actual sinking school at Hlanganani Primary in the Merafong Municipality.

"In the 2023/2024 financial year, the Municipality received a sum of R17 million towards addressing sinkhole problems. R12 million of this amount was obtained from the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements. The funds were designated for the refurbishing of the Phabane and Sompane Road sinkholes."

He said last year, the Municipality received an additional R5 million from the Provincial Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA). 

"This amount was intended for the rehabilitation of the Hlanganani Primary School sinkhole, which has raised alarms regarding the safety of students and staff, however, it has emerged that the allocation was spent on a Limpopo contractor who has only travelled to the municipality to write a concept document. No actual work has been done to rehabilitate the area around the school."

URGENT ATTENTION

Gotsell said during an oversight visit by the Select Committee on Petitions and Executive Undertakings in November 2024, it emerged that besides the Hlanganani sinkhole, there are several other critical sinkholes in Khutsong that need urgent attention.

"These sinkholes pose a risk to infrastructure and the safety of residents in these communities. Residents in Merafong continue to be displaced and moved due to the forming of new sinkholes, to RDP houses that do not have electricity or running water. They deserve urgent answers as to the allegations levelled against the Municipal Manager and Chief Financial Officer," he said.