Drains and manhole covers theft spirals in Mbombela

The City of Mbombela Local Municipality (CMLM) says the open drains and manholes in the city are a result of theft.

This followed after community members raised their concerns about the problems should a pedestrian fall into the uncovered holes. Ngala said all the steel covers would be replaced.

“This is a national problem, because steel is an income for some people. The manholes were covered before, but they are stolen and each section must check their manholes regularly. Some people break the catch-pits to steal the metal.

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The storm water catch-pits are also lifted by homeless people. Some of them sleep inside and they do not close the concrete slabs the next morning. The trucks also break catch-pit covers when they park on the sidewalks,” he said.

“The water, sanitation, electrical, optic fibre, storm water services in the road reserves and cast iron covers are also subject to theft,” he explained.

When asked about warning signs being used to warn the community about the open holes, Ngala admitted the road signs and steel poles were also stolen. “We are now using wood poles to erect road signs,”
he said.

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Ngala said the municipality did not have the resources to check all the drains daily.

“We receive reports from the Mbombela CID and some residents about the missing manhole covers. Manhole covers are replaced after they are reported, but sometimes due to non-payment of suppliers, manholes and catch-pit covers cannot be replaced. Non-steel covers are provided if available,” he said.

Residents are requested to report open manholes and catch-pits. Ngala urged the community to first identify the type of service and report it to the appropriate department for the issue to be resolved timeously.