Stolen manhole covers are fast becoming a grave concern for Alberton residents and the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) alike.
Ward 37 Clr Bruna Haipel noticed that the cover of a water valve chamber close to Pear Park, in Marthinus Oosthuizen and Hendrik Potgieter streets is missing. “This open manhole has been reported to the metro several times,” said Haipel.
“I have noticed that people living in Alberton no longer report issues they see to the municipality, because if they do, the municipality still doesn’t come to rectify the problems.”
Themba Gadebe, EMM spokesperson, said the cover was replaced on several occasions, but due to repeated instances of theft the metro now needs to replace the metal cover with a concrete cover instead.
Gadebe said the replacement of a sewer manhole lid made of concrete costs about R800, while a polymer lid costs around R1 650.
“Lockable lids are about double the cost of normal lids,” he added.
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