A couple of thieves steal manhole covers
Vista Drive in Mulbarton has seen its share of troubles lately with bursting pipes, open construction holes and now the theft of Johannesburg Water manhole covers.
Garden maintenance worker Vusi reported having twice seen a white couple stealing manhole covers, showing little fear of being spotted or their vehicle registration number being captured by residents.
“I saw the man lifting the cover and taking it to his car, they also saw me but they just carried on with what they were doing and then they drove off.”
Apparently, it wasn’t the first time that Vusi saw them again stealing the manhole covers.
In 2009 the Council reported on their website that they would no longer be using covers that have scrap value.
“These incidents lead to increased personal injury and damage to property. Thieves remove the covers with the intention of selling them to scrap merchants. As a result, the company has decided to use covers that do not have any scrap value,” said Baldwin Matsimela, the former utility’s communications and marketing manager.
