An elderly couple recently spoke to TygerBurger about their struggle to get a stolen drain cover replaced after multiple complaints were lodged with the City of Cape Town.
On Friday 11 March when an 80-year-old resident of Goodwood wanted to buy milk, he noticed that the drain cover in front of his gate was missing. He immediately went to his cousin, who helped him log a complaint. Five months and several complaints later, still nothing had been done and the cover was still not replaced.
“All I am thinking of is the rain that will flood that drain.”
The elderly couple from Goodwood is left frustrated and at wits ends because the drain cover that has been missing since March this year is still not replaced, making it nearly impossible to get his wife who is in a wheelchair in and out of the gate.
Not only does this 80-year-old depend on a crutch to get him around, his wife is also in a wheelchair. And to get outside of the gate meant he had to struggle to get his wife through the little gate, which is nearly impossible. And to open the heavy gate all by himself is another struggle. With the stolen cover, all of their troubles were multiplied.
This couple is now scared and without the help of others they are almost trapped in their yard. “It is a scary place to stay in,” the wife said. It is also a regular occurrence that drain covers are stolen, the couple said. “We noticed quite a few drain covers are missing. The drain is starting to smell.”
The couple suspects it is because people urinate in the drain right in front of their doorstep.
“The ward councillor is not doing her job. Both the City and Cecile Janse van Rensburg are aware of the problem.” According to the 80-year-old Cecile’s office would have responded back to them, but never have.
According to Atiyyah Kazi, Councillor Cecile Janse van Rensburg’s assistant, she was not aware of this problem, but “I will contact the resident to try and resolve this issue”.
According to the City’s Mayco member for water and sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien, a maintenance official from the City’s water and sanitation directorate visited the residence and reported that a boundary chamber cover had been stolen. The chamber is located on the outside of the property and poses a safety hazard to pedestrians. The department assisted in replacing the frame and the cover.
This matter has since been resolved.
Residents may contact Atiyyah directly via email: Atiyyah.Kazi@capetown.gov.za
