DA councillor bathes in sinkhole made by a burst pipe in his Secunda backyard

10 February 2016 - 18:19 By Nkosinathi Sengwayo
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Democratic Alliance councillor Tim Denny bathes in a sinkhole a burst pipe created in his backyard in Secunda, Mpumalanga.
Democratic Alliance councillor Tim Denny bathes in a sinkhole a burst pipe created in his backyard in Secunda, Mpumalanga.
Image: Supplied/ African Eye News Service

While portions of South Africa are faced with drought, a Democratic Alliance councillor has decried a 1.5m sinkhole filled with fresh water from a ruptured pipe along a road in Secunda, Mpumalanga.

The councillor, Tim Denny, even went to the extent of bathing in the sinkhole to show how deep it is.

"I spoke to one of the Govan Mbeki local municipality councillors... He said the problem will be solved and they will do their best but nothing happened. Eventually I visited the area by myself and saw the burst pipe with a hole.

"One of the residents said, 'Why don't you jump in?' I went to the local mine and got one of the environmental officers who came with a little machine that measures water.

"He mentioned that per day, it is 1.3 million litres which has been lost over the past 33 days while we are facing drought," he said.

Denny said the municipality doesn't have the funds to fix the leakage as it will cost almost R100,000.

"They were there yesterday (Tuesday) to check the problem, however what we know is that they do not have funds to fix the pipe. I am still standing here and they have not fixed it. To fix the pipe, it needs a bowl that will cost the tax payers about R90 000. If they don't do that the pipe will continue running fresh water to wastage," said Denny.

According to Municipal spokesman Bheki Kubheka the valve for the pipe was not available at their store - and the municipality is currently acquiring a new one.

The pool has now been barricaded.

"At the moment, our water team is on site busy working on the problem," said Kubheka.

- African Eye News Service 

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