With the city’s pavements in the downtown area looking like the world’s largest sandbox due to the Polokwane Municipality’s replacement of the city’s extremely old water system, real concerns have been raised by some residents over the safety hazards of these open pits, some of which are not cordoned off, that can be found on nearly every street corner in the affected area.
Polokwane Observer received numerous calls from concerned residents in this regard, stating that many of these excavations that are not cordoned off are in poorly lit parts of the city posing a hazard to any pedestrian. Examples of this are on the corners of Excelsior and Market, Oost and Jorrisen, Rabe and Thabo Mbeki, and Rabe and Voortrekker streets.
In some parts of the city, such as the corner of Marshall and Dorp streets, the pavement on both sides of the road are impassable. This is an enormous danger for one mother who is blind. She walks her child to and from nursery school every day and is forced to walk in the road to pass by the area.
One of the Polokwane Municipality’s construction projects involves the installation of fire hydrants. Once installed, the holes are not immediately filled and there is also no warning tape or cordoning off of these hydrants such as the one near the corner of Rabe and Voortrekker streets.
Polokwane Municipality communications and marketing manager Matshidiso Mothapo said it is standard procedure to have all excavations properly secured with the necessary visible materials to prevent risk of danger to the public.
“It is not clear why those particular areas are not protected. However, the relevant department and project managers have been tasked with investigating the matter and ensuring that the contractors do adhere to the safety measures,” he said.
He explained that the city area is undergoing several construction projects that will run over a period and do come with certain temporary inconveniences to all who use the roads and pavements. “These projects are meant to improve the quality of life for the residents, the infrastructure and economic activities in the city.”
Until these projects are completed some of the areas will remain an eyesore, he added. “We would appreciate input from the public on how to best improve systems with regard to project management and creation of a pleasing environment. The municipality will continue to plead with the public to remain patient and team with us in our endeavour to build a smart city together,” Mothapo concluded.
Story & photos: KAREN VENTER
>>karen@observer.co.za
