Pensioner from eMbalenhle struggles to walk after falling into an open drain pipe
“I cannot forget what happened that day. The truck came at a speed while I was crossing the street. When I was in the middle of the road, I ran for my life. This is when I fell inside the open drain not being barricaded.”
Elizabeth Damane’s life has not been the same since she fell into a stormwater drain while running away from a speeding truck in eMbalenhle two years ago.
This 69-year-old resident of Ext 22 in eMbalenhle was on her way home from delivering an order to a client. She used to crochet hats and scarves, which she sold from door to door to supplement her pension.
Damane will never forget that fateful day – the scars on her left foot, the pain and the inability to walk without a cane – are daily reminders.
“A truck came with a speed while I was crossing the road. I was in the middle of the road and had to run for my life, but when I reached the other side, I fell into the open drainage pipe on the roadside. It had no barricading nor warning signs,” explained Damane.
“I called for help because I could not get out.”
Damane said she was lucky because some community members came to her rescue when they heard her screams.
They took her to the hospital because she could not walk by herself.
Damane is raising her three grandchildren and has to provide for them. Her pension is not enough. She also cannot continue her crochet business because she is not mobile enough to deliver her goods.
“The doctors told me not to walk long distances because of my injury.”
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Damane blames the Govan Mbeki Municipality for her injury. “I would not have fallen in and got hurt if it had been barricaded.”
Damane said she reported the matter to her ward councillor, who took photos of her medical report.
“He promised he would hand them over to the municipality. When I later asked him about the progress, he told me he had lost the papers and requested new ones. I am still waiting for an answer,” said Damane.
Donald Green, the acting communications manager at the municipality, said they were not aware of the incident.
Green said the municipality is barricading all open manholes, and stormwater drainage across the municipality.
He said some of these incidents happen because of vandalism to the municipal infrastructure.
“The water and sanitation team will attend to the stormwater drain where Damane was injured,” he assured.
Green said the municipality apologises to Damane for what had happened to her.
