An unfortunate incident occurred on Friday the 13th last week when a backhoe, working at a property in Columbus Street in Steiltes, apparently hit a water pipe. The resulting damage flooded the street. An eyewitness said it soon resembled a swimming pool.
He said this occurred at about 15:00. Mr Richmond Jele, spokesman for Sembcorp Silulumanzi, said they received a call at around 17:00. He said the standby team was on site almost immediately and by 19:25, the pump line had been repaired and was working again.
The full extent of the damage was not yet clear. The witness confirmed that the street was without water for about five hours.
He added that the previous day the driver of the vehicle reversed into the street light in front of the house which caused the entire lamp fitting on top to tear loose and it hit the pavement and shattered. “Now we have just the pole and no lamp. I reported it to the municipality immediately, but no action (has been taken) so far.”
- Read more on previous water pipe disasters here.
