A manhole on the sidewalk in Mandela Street has filled to the brim with a black sludge thanks to months of neglect by the municipality.
The manhole, which is situated in front of Joosubs store in the Central Business District, has been open for quite some time.
Mr Simba Mahefu, an employee at Joosubs, cleans the drain of waste which has fermented in the hole.
“It has been open for more than two years now. People walk by and throw their rubbish into the hole,” said Ms Julia Mahlabana, Joosubs employee.
The rubbish which has decomposed has formed into a black sludge which reeks of sewage and fermentation.
On July 20, Mr Simba Mahefu, another employee at the store, took it on himself to clean the hole out.
He spent the better part of the afternoon scooping the sludge out of the hole and into canvass bags.
“We put up boards and all sorts of things to warn people of the hole but people keep stealing them. In the past a number of people have fallen into the hole, requiring medical assistance,” said one of the store employees.
Ms Mahlbana fears that business may be affected by the open manhole as the stench is as bad as can be and the hole is situated a few meters from the entrance to the store.
According to Mahlabana, they have contacted the municipality and reported the manhole.
Employees claim that even the mayor has come out to inspect it, yet nothing has been done to alleviate the problem.
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https://www.citizen.co.za/witbank-news/12528/man-falls-manhole-next-exposed-electricity-box/
