Unmarked hole causes serious injury to Nigel resident

Lack of working street lights a huge concern

March 30, 2019

Heidelberg Nigel Heraut 1 minute read

Unmarked hole causes serious injury to Nigel resident — Nigel resident Zacherie Prinsloo was battered and bruised after he fell into an unmarked hole on his way home from work.

Zacherie Prinsloo (47) sustained serious back injuries on March 6 in Milner Avenue, Noycedale when he fell into a hole that was supposed to be covered.

Prinsloo was walking home from work at approximately 20:45 when he plummeted into the hole which he could not see because the street lights in the area have been out of order for some time.

Fortunately his girlfriend was with him and she helped him to get out of the sticky situation.

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Prinsloo said that there were no warning signs near the hole and he was in agony for many days after the incident.

“I was in so much pain, I could not sleep,” he said, adding that he went to the Nigel clinic a few days later.

Meanwhile fellow Milner Avenue resident Rista Swart confirmed that she had laid a complaint at the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) regarding the lack of street lights in Milner Avenue on March 7.

Zacherie Prinsloo points to a hole that was supposed to be covered by municipal workers. With streetlights out of order he could not see the hole and subsequently he sustained serious back injuries after he fell in the hole.

Swart said that her complaints have not been addressed and that she also complained about long grass in the area which she feels poses a safety threat to residents.

“This grass in the area has not been cut for ages and it is creating the perfect hiding place for criminals,” said Swart.

Local shop owner Lionel Franco said that he agrees with Swart on the safety risk and that he has taken it on himself to cut the grass near his business in Milner Avenue.

“People are less likely to do their shopping at my business when it is dangerous to do so, so I had to do something,” Franco explained.

Stella Sibisi at the complaints department for EMM in Nigel confirmed that they had received the complaints from Swart and that they are currently waiting on the relevant department to take action.

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