Bapsfontein sinkhole riots

[Kloofvreter]

Well this is a catch 22. Move them, riots. Let them stay and sinkholes take them away, riots. You cannot win with the mentality of the 'poor and previously disadvantaged.

 

[Ricard]

The people are not that new. 10 years are not new. This is the first time I have heard about the sink holes.
Just saying that is not a bad excuse to move the people to better accomodation.

[Dated 2005]
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/killer-sinkhole-poses-growing-threat-1.239857

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bapsfontein

During first half of 2004 sinkholes appeared, as a result of too much groundwater being pumped out by vegetable farmers in the area.

I have known about the unstable ground since 1998 (as I fly from Bapsfortein Airfield which is close by)

 

[Mila]

Thanx for that. I was wondering where the water came from.

 

[Nothxkbi]

Probably rioting out of principle alone. When you're poor you're always expecting everybody to be pushing you around and taking advantage of you. Very sad really.

 

[MickeyD]

Sorry to resurrect thread, but it is relevant:

Bapsfontein forced removals begin
2011-03-05 11:52

Johannesburg - The forced relocation of families who initially refused to be moved from Bapsfontein in December has begun, the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality said on Saturday.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Bapsfontein-forced-removals-begin-20110305

Note: I support the removal of people from this area.

 

[dlk001]

LOL, do you really think all DA supporters are rich people living in mansions and what not. You ANC supporters should learn to think before you type. Wasn't it a few months ago that you lot were throwing toys out cots because the DA was trying to do something similar in Hangklip?

Of cause not all DA supporters are rich people just like not all people who have different view points from yours are ANC supporters.

 

[The_Assimilator]

Well this is a catch 22. Move them, riots. Let them stay and sinkholes take them away, riots. You cannot win with the mentality of the 'poor and previously disadvantaged.

Of course you can... shoot them all.

 

[dlk001]

Bapsfontein dolomite water compartment is being dewatered at a shocking rate due to excessive extraction from the aquifers. I’m talking about extraction rates reported to be nearly 4 times the recharge rate. As a result, the water table has dropped in a short time to more than 80m below ground level, depriving the people of their source of portable borehole water. In addition to instability issues, the ground water is also prone to pollution from pit latrines in the densely populated informal settlement when instability occurs.

The question that still needs to be answered is why are few users in this area authorized to pump more water from the aquifers than its sustainable yield? In the meantime, the area remains high risk for people because the sinkholes happen with little warning.

In many times, forced relocation of people fails because of lack of communication between interested and affected parties. This happens even a high level projects in mining or a project like the Gautrain.