Carletonville Faces Project Delays, Unpaid Accounts, and Unmarked Sinkhole
- Karen Scheepers
- Sep 10
- 2 min read
Last week in Carletonville, several pressing municipal challenges came under the spotlight. From stalled development projects to concerns over unpaid accounts and unresolved safety hazards, residents were once again left questioning the pace and effectiveness of local service delivery.
Sinkhole Still Unmarked
In addition to financial and developmental setbacks, Carletonville continues to grapple with geotechnical risks. A sinkhole discovered in July near the Carletonville Sports Complex remains unaddressed. Although funds have been allocated for sinkhole repairs following the municipality’s disaster declaration, the site still lies open.
By last week, what little barrier tape had once marked the danger had fallen to the ground, leaving the several-metre-deep cavity unprotected. With no warning structures in place, the unmarked sinkhole poses a serious risk to residents in the vicinity.
Unpaid Municipal Accounts Raise Concerns
Another issue drawing attention in Carletonville last week was the handling of municipal accounts by the Merafong City Local Municipality. Residents raised concerns after learning that certain households have accumulated massive arrears without enforcement action being taken.
Examples include one account reportedly exceeding R253,000 and another in Khutsong standing at nearly R193,000. These revelations raised questions of fairness, particularly for ratepayers who continue to meet their obligations while others remain in default. The situation comes at a time when the municipality itself struggles with overdue payments to service providers, including Eskom.
Kokosi Project Stalls
The much-anticipated Kokosi Market Square development remains incomplete, despite repeated assurances that it would become a central hub for small business activity. Initially launched in October 2023 with support from Harmony Gold and various government departments, the project was expected to provide container stalls for traders along A Lembede Drive.
Nearly two years later, visible progress has been limited. Since May, the only noticeable work on site has been the closure of a stormwater ditch. No container stalls have been placed, and construction appears far from finished. Reports indicate that unpaid contractors are at the heart of the delay, leaving the project, and the local economic opportunities it promised, at a standstill.
A Week of Mounting Pressure
The events of the past week highlight mounting pressure on the Merafong City Local Municipality. Development plans remain stalled, financial management is under scrutiny, and critical safety interventions have yet to materialise. For residents of Carletonville and surrounding areas, these issues underscore the challenges of living in a community where essential projects and responsibilities are frequently delayed or neglected.
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