THE Gauteng housing department does not want people living in Thembelihle to be swallowed by the ground and pleads that they agree to relocate to safer ground.

MEC for local government and housing Humphrey Mmemezi said the area was dolomitic and not fit for people to live in.

Two detailed studies have been conducted by Intraconsult and the Council of Geoscience, which does geological, geophysical and palaeontological research.

Mmemezi said: "A lot of investigation has been done. Not only once but many times. The area is dolomitic. Some areas are low risk while others are high risk.

"We plead with them to move from this area. It is not safe for them.

"If this area was safe, Indians would have built houses on the land a long time ago. Hence, you see the houses of Indians are around that [different] piece of land."

He said dolomitic conditions needed water leakage control and that structures could be built on dolomitic land, but with conditions - like laying a strong, and thus expensive, foundation.

He said the people in Thembelihle have to move to Vlakfontein and Lehae near Orange Farm in the Vaal.