Theft of drain and manholes covers has had serious consequences for Ward 4 resident, Mervin November, who said he had cracked his kneecap when he fell into an uncovered hole.
Theft of drain and manholes covers has had serious consequences for Ward 4 resident, Mervin November, who said he had cracked his kneecap when he fell into an uncovered hole.
“I was getting a lift home from church on 11 July and when I got out of the bakkie I fell into the open drain,” November said. The next day he was referred to Livingstone Hospital in Port Elizabeth, where he underwent major surgery.
“The street lights weren't on either, so I couldn't see anything. To this day that drain is still uncovered.” The hole is at the corner of Cobus Street and Aiken Street in the Scotts Farm suburb. November says he went to the municipality to report the issue but was met with only disdain.
“I was told that all I was doing was taking my chances in getting money from the municipality and that nothing was really wrong with me.”
The public relations councillor of Makana Independent New Deal (Mind), Devon Waldick, was at the municipality when November arrived to talk to someone. “I told him that it would be wise for him to go through an attorney for these legal issues. He didn't go to his ward councillor to report the issue, he just came straight to the municipality. He's just making it about money.”
Waldick said when they heard about the issue he inspected the site and the drain cover had been replaced by the municipality.
Grocott's Mail can confirm that as of Wednesday the drain was uncovered. “The municipality has stopped replacing metal covers, as they are always stolen, and has started using concrete covers. Unfortunately the company that makes them is based in East London and they haven't received payment from the municipality in a long time and have stopped supply,” said Waldick.
November, however, said he had spoken to Ward 4 councillor, Lena May – and May has confirmed this. May also said the hole had been uncovered for many months and was not the only one. “When our written requests go to municipality we have no control over how quickly they are addressed. One of the open drains we've been complaining about has been like that for over two years now,” May said.
November, who is still using crutches to get about, has enlisted the aid of Leon Keyter Attorneys.
