John Rugg, a resident of Hazel Park, told the GCN that, last Wednesday evening, he noticed effluent pouring through a sewage hole cover on Arnheim Road.
“This has often occurred over the last 15 to 18 years,” he said.
“It was attended to on the Saturday, which was pleasantly and surprisingly appreciated.”
But what worried John was the fact that, on his way to work on Monday, August 12, he noticed a total of four missing sewage hole covers, west of the one that was attended to.
“What could the municipal workers possibly do with these covers, as there is no value in them?” he asked.
“These covers replaced the original cast iron ones that were stolen a long time ago.
“Possibly they could be used for another area, where rates have not been paid?”
John feels that the missing covers pose a huge safety hazard, as there are children who play on the pavements and pedestrians commuting back and forth.
He also said they pose a health hazard.
He added that there were also covers on Arnheim Road, closer to Wattles Station, which had been lifted and not replaced properly.
“A total of five covers are protruding four to five centimetres above the tar,” he said.
“In fact, there is evidence of a vehicle hitting one cover and damaging the cement so who knows what damage was caused to the unfortunate vehicle’s wheels,” he said.
The GCN asked the metro for comment on the missing and ill-fitting covers and Sam Modiba, spokesman for the metro, said: “It is suspected that the stealing of the covers may be because of the steel used as reinforcement inside the concrete cover.
“The matter will be attended to by the end of this week.”
