Open manhole: Mokopane man badly injured
An uncovered manhole has left Daniël Pitja with serious back injuries and a broken neck, and urgent medical attention is required.
MOKOPANE – Eva Motlasedi, sister of Pitja (50), told Bosveld her brother fell into an uncovered manhole early in August, at 19:00 on his way home.
“The streetlights were not working and it was dark. Pitja did not see the ditch and fell into it. The hole is roughly two metres deep, with iron pipes and connections. He sustained serious injuries to his spine and back and broke his neck.”
According to Eva, she went to the municipality on 10 August to see Andrew Dibeila, a councillor in the Mogalakwena Municipality, for Mahwelereng. “Dibeila promised he will report the matter to the Technical Department of the Mogalakwena Municipality. Until today, no one at the municipality has visited or contacted Pitja or our family.”
Eva said her brother needs to undergo back and neck operations as a result of the fall, and that the hospital in Mokopane is not equipped to do it.
“We don’t have the finance to transport Pitja to Gauteng or to pay for private hospitals where he will get the best medical attention.
“At the moment he is laying in a hospital bed day and night and can’t move. It is traumatic for all of us.”
Pitja told Bosveld he has himself reported the uncovered manhole to the Technical Department of the Mogalakwena Municipality numerous times.
“The day Eva visited me I told her I will report it again to the municipality which I did. It is now in the municipality’s hands.”
Malesela Selokela, Departmental Head of Communications of the Mogalakwena Municipality had not provided comment by the time Bosveld went to print.
redaksie.bosvelder@nmgroup.co.za
