Resident survives shocking Joburg Water sewerage manhole explosion in Halfway House

Imagine driving along a familiar road, anticipating a routine journey home, when suddenly, the ground beneath you explodes, flinging your car into the air.

This nightmare became a chilling reality for resident Renos Nicos Spanoudes, as he unsuspectingly manoeuvered his vehicle along Janadel Avenue in Halfway House on June 3.

Oblivious to the impending danger, he approached a seemingly harmless Joburg Water sewerage manhole.

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“At about 17:15, I was driving along Janadel Avenue near Fred Verseput Avenue and in the distance, I could see the manhole was slightly raised with a bit of plastic sticking out,” recalled Spanoudes.

As Spanoudes’ vehicle passed over the treacherous manhole, chaos ensued. The ground beneath him erupted in a forceful explosion, spewing forth a horrifying torrent of faeces, urine, and other unimaginable substances.

“The manhole was not flat with the surface of the road, just slightly raised, and there were no signs of danger. As I drove over it, it exploded underneath the car, throwing me into the air,” Spanoudes recounted.

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Miraculously, through sheer luck and the protection of his seatbelt, Spanoudes emerged unscathed from the wreckage. Despite the chaos and destruction surrounding him, he stood upright, bewildered but thankfully alive.

“The seatbelt was on, so that was the saving grace. I think my late mom and dad, the angels, God, the universe – all played a role in my survival. If you could see the car, you would not believe that anyone survived it,” he said.

While Spanoudes escaped physical harm, his cherished companion of 24 years, his trusted car, suffered irreparable damage in the accident.

The loss of his vehicle, intertwined with precious memories of his late mother, left Spanoudes facing the daunting task of moving forward.

JMPD spokesperson, Superintendent Xolani Fihla, confirmed that the accident did occur and that JMPD officers attended the scene.

Despite multiple attempts to contact Johannesburg Water since June 5, to obtain the entity’s comments on the cause of the explosion and whether the entity takes responsibility for the accident, no response had been forthcoming by the time of going to print.

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