The risk of children in Ekurhuleni falling into manholes is quickly becoming a thing of the past, as the metro rolls out branded orange plastic manhole covers, replacing the theft-prone metal ones.<\/p>\n
The replacement of old cast-iron covers is one of the municipality\u2019s efforts to curb vandalism and theft of manhole covers.<\/p>
\u201cThe new plastic covers do not have the monetary value that the metal thieves are looking for and we believe it is a groundbreaking intervention to put an end to this malicious crime.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf great value to the residents is the reduction of the risk of falling into the manholes,\u201d said the metro\u2019s spokesman, Themba Gadebe.<\/p>
The new manhole covers, Gadebe added, will also go a long way in decreasing the number of overflowing sewers, which are mainly caused by foreign objects being dumped into open manholes.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, a task team has been set up to visit scrap yards across Ekurhuleni in search of any cast iron manhole covers and other municipality-owned property that has been traded for money.<\/p>\n
In cases where scrap yards are found in possession of council-owned items, a charge of theft will be laid against the owners of the company.<\/p>\n
The municipality must be able to prove that the items are council property.<\/p>\n
The metro encourages residents to continue reporting missing manhole covers and any suspicious or illegal activity to the call centre, on 0860 543 000.<\/p>\n