ETHEKWINI Municipality has been blamed for the poor maintenance of Atherstone Place in Woodlands after a resident suffered fractured ribs when he fell into a manhole that was completely concealed by unmaintained grass at the park.

The incident occurred early this month, when Mark Adams was playing tennis with his family on a nearby road adjacent to the park.

The ball reportedly went into the long grass, and while searching for it, he stepped into a manhole that had been completely hidden by the overgrown grass.

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“My right foot went straight into the manhole, and I broke the fall with my back against the side of the drain. My right knee also scraped and landed on the edge of the manhole. I screamed and called for help as my other family members were panicking. I was able to crawl out of the dip drain and lied on the grass while my father was rushing to help me out,” said Adams.

He said he has been absent from work as he is currently using crutches to walk.

“I cannot do my work properly because my back is sore. I have to use crutches to move around the house. I am worried because I have been absent from work for more than three days, and if my condition does not improve soon, I am likely to lose my job. This incident has had a knock-on effect on me, as I can no longer sleep properly or play with my children,” he said.

Community members said the park has been left unattended for an extended period, with no grass cutting or proper maintenance carried out, creating unsafe conditions for residents who regularly use the area.

Adams sustained fractured ribs and was taken for medical treatment. The extent of his injuries has not yet been fully disclosed.

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Adams said repeated complaints about the condition of the park have gone unanswered, leaving hazards such as open drains hidden and unmarked.

“Our community leaders in this street have been complaining to the municipality about the overgrown grass. Despite numerous calls made to the officials, nothing was fixed until I fell into a drain. Surprisingly, on the following day, teams from Parks and Garden came to cut the grass,” Adams added.

Community leader calls for accountability

Community leader Raffick Ahmed said he has been pushing for the maintenance of the park for a long time, however, he said all his pleas have gone unanswered.

Ahmed has been living in the area for 20 years. He said service delivery has always been poor in Woodlands.

Residents are now calling for urgent intervention, saying the incident could have been prevented if regular maintenance had been carried out.

Ward 64 councillor responds to public concerns

Ward 64 councillor Norman Gilbert said the incident highlights a growing and city-wide issue about the theft of critical infrastructure such as manhole covers.

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He said these covers are frequently stolen and sold as scrap metal, often by individuals seeking income for basic needs or, in some cases, to sustain substance dependencies.

Regardless of the motive, Gilbert believes that the removal of such infrastructure creates hazardous conditions for residents.

Commenting on Adams’ case, he said the danger was significantly exacerbated by overgrown grass on the verge, which completely concealed the open manhole.

He said under current municipal contracts, verge maintenance is conducted on a five-week cycle, typically resulting in grass being cut approximately every six weeks. However, he said in Durban’s fast-growing climate, this interval is insufficient.

“When a scheduled cut is missed, the delay can extend to 10 to 12 weeks, allowing vegetation to become excessively overgrown and obscuring critical hazards such as open manholes. The verge cutting contract covers a 3m span from the roadside inward. Beyond this, responsibility falls to the Parks and Gardens Department.

According to Gilbert, Ward 64 is experiencing severe resource constraints. These include shortages in both manpower and functional equipment, limiting the department’s ability to maintain parks, open spaces, and sports fields effectively.

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He added that district 8 recently faced equipment setbacks, including a tractor damaged by fire.

“This incident is deeply concerning and entirely avoidable. It underscores systemic failures in both infrastructure protection and basic service delivery. Residents should not be exposed to such risks simply by walking in their own neighbourhoods,” he added.

Gilbert has engaged with the relevant municipal departments to urgently address these challenges. He called for accelerated replacement and securing of stolen infrastructure, and immediate resource allocation to the Parks and Gardens Department, particularly in District 8.

“The City must take decisive action. We cannot allow service delivery shortcomings to result in preventable injuries. Public safety must be prioritised,” he added.

He encouraged residents to report missing infrastructure and overgrown public spaces to municipal hotlines to assist in early intervention.

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