Sluice still a concern after boy’s death
JOBURG – A sluice along Main Reef Road in Denver remains uncleaned and no measures have been taken to secure the sluice.
By Mbavhalelo Malofha
A sluice along Main Reef Road in Denver remains a concern for residents.
Six-year-old Nkosimphile Dlamini died after he was playing with his friends and their ball fell into the sluice.
Residents of the area believe the boy may have been electrocuted due to an illegal connection while he was trying to retrieve the ball.
It has been over a year since Nkosimphile’s death and the sluice remains a concern.
“We have been waiting for years for the sluice to be cleaned and we need safety measures to be implemented. Children are not safe. We don’t want the same tragedy that happened last year to occur again,” said resident Zanele Zwane.
“This sluice is next to the main road and we need a fence around it,” said resident Jacob Zungu.
Another resident, Lucky Ncamphalala, also pleaded for the sluice to be cleaned.
“The Gambian Waterway [sluice] was cleaned a few months ago which in itself was a contentious issue as Clr Lindani Zulu of Ward 65 was erroneously tasked with sourcing labour. The waterway does not fall within his ward so the labour allocation was given unfairly to people who do not live in Ward 118. This situation needs to be avoided this time,” said Ward 118 Clr Neuren Pietersen.
“I have raised the risk of flooding with JRA [Joburg Roads Agency] and I am waiting for a response. The problem of illegal connections has also been pointed out to City Power. I was asked yesterday [October 8] by a resident to have the waterway cleared and, based on this request, I raised the issue with JRA. The waterway is fenced with razor wire along the main road,” said Pietersen.
He encouraged residents to treat the waterway as dangerous and to ensure that their children are aware of the danger of illegal electricity lines and flash flooding.
A request for comment was sent to Bertha Peters-Scheepers from the JRA on October 9. A reply was expected by October 11.
Requests for comment were also sent to Zulu and Solly Masolo of City Power on October 10.
No comment had been received at the time of going to print.
