The Sol Plaatje Municipality says it has embarked on a programme to replace missing or broken manhole covers in Kimberley.
The new covers do not have resale value “unlike the metal ones that are stolen and sold to unscrupulous scrapyards”.
Ockie Fourie, a DA councillor, says the covers and frameworks are mostly stolen by vagrants who extract metal parts from the stormwater drain systems.
“The older covers have reinforced steel inside the concrete slabs and the slabs lay on metal frames inside the manhole.
The slabs are destroyed by the vagrants to steal the metal. If it is broken up, its origin becomes blurred and is then sold to scrap metal dealers, often to buy drugs.
“It is extremely dangerous for pedestrians to step into holes or motorists who unwittingly get stranded when wheels are caught in open holes.”
According to Fourie, the destruction is mostly done at night when residents are in a deep sleep whereafter the metals parts are carted away.
Thabo Mothibi, spokesperson of the Sol Plaatje Municipality, says they have two teams responsible for unblocking stormwater intakes and the replacement of damaged or stolen manhole covers.
“The work to be done includes Carters Glen, Kirstenhof and Rhodesdene. Starting from Monday, 12 August, the team will be focusing on the central business district and thereafter will move to the main roads.”
There are, however, budget constraints.
“Due to budget constraints, we could only order 1 000 intake slabs, and the supplier will start delivering on Tuesday, 13 August.
“Unfortunately, we only have a contract for the supply of concrete slabs and therefore no other material can be used, it will be reinforced with a centre beam to avoid damages caused by vehicles driving over them.
“Thieves usually remove covers to hide stolen items in the stormwater system, and it is impossible to monitor and curb this criminal activity.
“Our latest report on legal claims did not bear any claim pertaining to uncovered manholes or stormwater intakes.”
