A concerned reader pointed out the danger that these open manholes could cause to pedestrians.
”Of particular concern to me is the open manhole outside Wordsworth High School, which appears to be much deeper than average,” said Shaun ter Bruggen.
”Scores of pupils from both Wordsworth High School and Belvedere School, as well as the staff of the Sheridan Shopping Centre, walk past this open manhole daily.
”I fear it is only a matter of time until an errant scholar or pedestrian falls into this manhole, with inevitable, disastrous consequences.”
A Farrarmere resident living opposite Wordsworth High School said he closed one of the manholes, for fear that someone may be injured.
Ward Clr Mary Goby, said Wordsworth Street had been particularly hard-hit by theft of these covers.
She said council fences, street poles and street signs are also being stolen in the two suburbs.
Goby urged citizens to be on the lookout for suspicious activity.
”Residents should keep a lookout for vehicles large enough to transport stolen metal and report the make, model and licence numbers of suspicious vehicles to the SAPS, the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) or their own security companies,” said Goby.
She also asked the SAPS and EMPD to visit scrap metal dealers, to determine whether they are purchasing these goods.
Goby encouraged people to report missing manhole covers and fences to the roads department on 011 999 7242, or to send her an SMS on 082 679 7109, or email her a reference number at mary.goby@ekurhuleni.gov.za, for her to follow up the complaint.
Benoni SAPS media liaison officer Lieut Nomsa Sekele said police do conduct operations at scrap metal dealers regularly.
At the time of going to print no comment had been received from Ekurhuleni.
