An open hole just along Grobeler Street in the city cente
The streets Polokwane City, including the township of Seshego is characterised by open holes along the water pipe lines. These include the main holes on the main pipe lines. More 20 small holes in the city centre and in Seshego are without leads.This are the areas where pedestrians walk during the day and during the night.
In Seshego there are lots of main holes without leads and at the Seshego dam where children can reach when they are playing.
An Open Hole at the Seshego Dam where kids passes everyday
“These put children in the risk of injuries or falling into the holes” said the Spokes Person for The Polokwane Municipality Mr Matshidiso Mothapo.
The Manager for Water and Sanitation in the Municipality Mr Tonie Muller said they have ordered the leads in November 2008.
The Municipality said that the open holes are as a result of vandalism and theft. Mothapo said “we have a challenge of theft and vandalism, and it’s not only a local problem but its everywhere”. He further said “People still up to anything, for what? I don’t know because the reasons are known by themselves”.
The Municipality is urging the community members not to vanadalise public property and must report theft to the police or to the municipality.
There is a sewage pipe line located at the Seshego Dam, people use this pipe as a crossing area form Zone 4 to Zone 5 and vice versa. An average of 10 people every 15 minutes crosses using this pipe line. This ranges from young people aged 5 and mothers with infants on their backs. Some people cross this pipe holding bicycles. The question remains, what is to be done, what if people fell down the pipe line.
Is the government not responsible for protecting the people from endangering themselves? Or is it the people’s responsibilities not to walk where they are not supposed to.
The Municipality is urging the community members not to vanadalise public property and must report theft to the police. The Municipality said that the area is not a route or crossing area, they are urging the people not to cross with that pipe. It seems as there were barricades restricting people to cross but people have broke it down. They said that since the area has been identified as a potential dangerous, they will install a warning sign indicating that people must cross on their own risk, because if any injuries occurs they are not going to be held responsible.
My Opinion
So what if the barricades have been broken down, if the municipality not responsible for putting in other measures to protect the community. Is the sign going to protect people from injuring themselves? I don’t see anyhow the sign is going to prevent people from being injured. The Municipality must not runaway from their responsibility of protecting the community. OK if we say the open holes are as a result of vandalism and theft, what about electric cables lying outside on the walking surface in the city centre, what about the parking meters lying down on the pedestrian paths in the city centre. Would I get a fine if I park my car and not pay next to this metre?
You Can ask yourself this questions:
Is the Municipality's Neglect?
Is the community not responsible, by not reporting stolen leads?
Are the children safe in this conditions?
What if someone is injured or fall in the holes?
What is the role of the police in this instance?
What can we do to keep the city safe at all times?
Report by Thabelo Adam Malapa
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