JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) is introducing alternative non-metal manhole covers and drainage grates as part of its enormous fight to save the City of Johannesburg (CoJ)’s road assets from rampant theft and vandalism.
“As an entity entrusted with the road assets of the CoJ, the JRA is implementing an initiative to replace all cast iron and steel manhole covers and drainage grates with alternative materials such as ductile iron, plastic, fibre glass and polymer. The new materials will weigh considerably less than the existing covers, which can weigh in excess of 140kg, are more robust, carry the JRA branded logo, have no significant resale value and comply with JRA and SABS standard specifications. The JRA piloted the alternative manhole covers in selected areas city-wide and the results proved positive. The specification has been approved and we are now procuring the alternative products,” confirmed JRA acting managing director Mpho Kau.
Due to the market value of the metals in manhole covers and drainage grates, they have become the targets of thieves and vandals. The problem with theft is global and generally worsens when the price of scrap metal is high. The City and the JRA is experiencing huge financial losses due to theft of its steel roads infrastructure assets, namely manhole covers and frames, kerb inlet covers, water meter covers, sewer manhole covers, channel posts and guard rails, traffic poles, bridge hand railings and more. Over the past 12 months, 3200 missing manhole covers were reported to the JRA. Stolen manhole covers cost the JRA a substantial amount of money, during the 2013/2014 financial year alone, the JRA spent R2.9 million on covers.
This spate of infrastructure theft and vandalism is a direct sabotage and devaluation of the City’s infrastructure assets and poses a safety hazard to road users. The missing covers on walkways and roads creates a huge problem for pedestrians as well as small children who have fallen into the manholes and storm water channels and have been fatally injured. As an interim measure, once the JRA is notified of open manholes, it barricades the area to secure the hole and warn the community.
Kau said the JRA condemns illegal scrap metal dealers who are complicit in the increasing attack on the City’s infrastructure and urges unsuspecting dealers to examine metals before accepting them.
“We appeal to scrapyard owners not to purchase CoJ and JRA assets from criminals. Also, community members are requested to engage in the City’s Active Citizenry initiative and report all acts of vandalism and theft of road infrastructure to the City of Johannesburg’s Call Centre 0860 562 874 or report these criminal activities to SAPS or JMPD,” said Kau.
