COVERS OF POTENTIAL DEATH TRAPS REPLACED
MISSING manhole covers are a death trap. In the 2016/17 financial year, 104 people were killed in Joburg by falling into these uncovered holes. The total was 99 in the 2014/15 year.
The City of Joburg yesterday announced that, through the Johannesburg Roads Agency, it was embarking on a campaign to replace the missing covers.
Mayor Herman Mashaba officially launched the citywide project to safeguard residents and road users during flash flooding in time for the summer rains.
The new covers, which are SABS approved, are made from polymer, which is a combination of fibreglass, rubber and resin. They are slightly cheaper than the steel versions, at R900 a cover.
Last year, some 4 000 covers were stolen, and this does not include Johannesburg Water covers, which are different in shape.
“We have inherited a jungle; there is no law and order in this city and we have to address this and make civil society aware of the dangers of breaking by-laws,” said the mayor.
The project forms part of the city’s efforts to improve stormwater management and minimise urban and residential flooding.
This follows the mayor’s announcement of the city’s 2016/17 adjustment budget, where the JRA received additional funding towards addressing road and related infrastructure backlogs.
“The decades-long neglect of infrastructure maintenance means there is still a huge mountain to climb to effectively address our city’s ageing roads and infrastructure challenges.
“However, this administration is committed to addressing the city’s challenges for the benefit of all our residents.”