John Rugg, a resident of Hazel Park, told the GCN that, last Wednesday evening, he noticed effluent pouring through a sewage hole cover on Arnheim Road.<\/p>\n
“This has often occurred over the last 15 to 18 years,” he said.<\/p>
“It was attended to on the Saturday, which was pleasantly and surprisingly appreciated.”<\/p>\n
But what worried John was the fact that, on his way to work on Monday, August 12, he noticed a total of four missing sewage hole covers, west of the one that was attended to.<\/p>
“What could the municipal workers possibly do with these covers, as there is no value in them?” he asked.<\/p>\n
“These covers replaced the original cast iron ones that were stolen a long time ago.<\/p>\n
“Possibly they could be used for another area, where rates have not been paid?”<\/p>\n
John feels that the missing covers pose a huge safety hazard, as there are children who play on the pavements and pedestrians commuting back and forth.<\/p>\n
He also said they pose a health hazard.<\/p>\n
He added that there were also covers on Arnheim Road, closer to Wattles Station, which had been lifted and not replaced properly.<\/p>\n
“A total of five covers are protruding four to five centimetres above the tar,” he said.<\/p>\n
“In fact, there is evidence of a vehicle hitting one cover and damaging the cement so who knows what damage was caused to the unfortunate vehicle’s wheels,” he said.<\/p>\n
The GCN asked the metro for comment on the missing and ill-fitting covers and Sam Modiba, spokesman for the metro, said: “It is suspected that the stealing of the covers may be because of the steel used as reinforcement inside the concrete cover.<\/p>\n
“The matter will be attended to by the end of this week.”<\/p>\n