WARD 31 councillor, Charmaine Clayton has labelled the City’s service delivery and its response to complaints a ‘disgrace’.
According to Clayton, she has been reporting the issue of potholes and manhole covers for years but has received no joy.
An incorrectly placed manhole cover led to resident, Charné Naudé, sustaining serious injuries when she tripped and fell while walking on Stephen Dlamini Road (Essenwood Road) on 25 May.
Speaking about her ordeal, Naudé said, “I fell on 25 May on Stephen Dlamini Road around 6pm during a club run. It is extremely concerning as there are limited street lamps that are working in the Glenwood, Berea and Morningside area. We run with head lamps and torches to provide extra lighting and in addition have to constantly watch out for missing manhole covers which is a huge concern and risk to all. I tripped on the lip of a manhole cover which was sticking out and hadn’t been fitted completely flat.”
She added she sustained three fractures to her proximal humerus as well as multiple abrasions to her right elbow, left knee and other areas on her body.
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“I was admitted to hospital on 25 May and taken to theatre on 26 May where an open reduction and internal fixation were done. A bone graft was performed to my right proximal humerus. I have now started with physio to gain movement and strength in my right arm which has been extremely painful and stressful. This is due to a manhole cover not being fitted correctly and could have been avoided,” said Naudé.
She added as residents they are concerned about the condition of their roads due to the refuse, large amount of rubble on the pavements, which are being dug up to install fibre, and dysfunctional street lamps.
Clayton said it is shocking to walk in these areas and notice the number of potholes and manhole covers that have been removed.
“I have complained on numerous occasions to council but nothing has been forthcoming. It is a shame and a disgrace to expect people to pay high rates and taxes and nothing has been done,” she said.
She said in her ward, there are as many as 31 potholes.
“My question to the municipality is when exactly are we going to have these repaired. It seems like there is enough jobs but there is no money to repair it. Getting through to the municipality has been a nightmare as well. The numbers we are given, somebody picks up and we keep getting told somebody is not in, emails do not get answered, and WhatsApp messages don’t get answered. Where too from here? Since I am a councillor, I get shouted at daily for this kind of workmanship. eThekwini Municipality has failed us we need answers and we need them now,” she said.
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She said she was saddened when she received the call from Naudé who was hospitalised for four days.
“She is injured and has stipends in her leg and plats on her shoulder. My concern is who actually takes responsibility. This lady was in hospitals and obviously has huge bills. Is council going to pay for this, is this lady going to wait for years to be refunded? This lady is in agony and can’t walk,” she said.
She added apart from the streetlights not working, other issues in the area include overgrown bushes in vacant land and the lack of maintenance at parks.
Attempts to obtain a comment from eThekwini Municipality spokesperson, Mswakhe Mayisela, proved futile at the time of going to print.
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