Resident wary of flooding after storm drain theft
Without proper drainage, the road and pavement could give way, leaving residents stranded.
CONCERNS were sparked when a storm water pipe went missing on Ayott Road recently. Resident, Vanessa Black said the pipe was stolen on 3 April after the pavement was dug up around fibre installation that began on15 March.
While the fibre installation process has caused several issues. Black’s main concern is that the storm water pipe will not be replaced before the reinstatement of the pavement. She said that without proper drainage, the road and pavement could give way, leaving residents stranded.
“Of great concern is that the exposed piping which -for more than three weeks – has now become a target of theft for quick sales as scrap metal. I witnessed and filmed two women breaking off the large storm water pipes on 3 April. They were undeterred by me confronting and filming them. The next morning male accomplices attempted to steal the water supply pipe and were chased off. I’m concerned as the storm water pipes collect run-off water from properties and an old service alley that runs at the back of properties and would exit this onto the road where it would flow into storm water drains. Now that these are broken off they need to be replaced from inside of yards or they will be draining into the sandy subsoil under our pavements, walls and the road. This will inevitably lead to collapse,” she said.
Also read: Dangerous pavements plague Berea following fibre installation
Black said she reported the matter to the eThekwini Municipality.
“I tried to alert the eThekwini Water Department to this issue so that they can coordinate with the fibre installation company from a higher level,” she said.
The City responds
Spokesperson for the eThekwini Municipality, Msawakhe Mayisela said an investigation would be launched into the matter.
“The matter will be investigated and if found to be true, the pipe will be fixed. It is unfortunate that in the event that water pipes are damaged, contractors fail to report such matters to the City. Regarding the stealing of water pipes, this is a crime. We urge residents to report such matters to the City or the SAPS,” he said.
Black said she did not report the matter to SAPS as the pipe was stolen from the back of the police station.
Also read: Dangerous pavements plague Berea following fibre installation
“I was hoping that by alerting the water department and councillor that they would take this matter up at a higher level to ensure the protection of eThekwini infrastructure and better management of the private companies that have been allowed to dig up our pavements – rather than expecting individual residents to lay cases, fight the digging crews or defend eThekwini infrastructure paid for by taxpayers on their own at their personal risk,” she said.
Lighstruck and Metrofibre did not send their comments at the time this article went to print.
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