Yet again, complaints against nyaopes prowling the streets of Laudium to get their hands on any item, so that they can get a few rand in order to buy some cheap drugs, have surfaced.
Once again, residents have complained about a steel manhole cover that has been missing, presumably stolen by nyaopes. The worrying part for residents is the safety aspect and the risk caused by the missing cover, as it now leaves a deep, open hole, exposing electrical cables as well. Residents in the White Blocks area are furious that the council has not yet replaced the cover, despite numerous calls alerting them of the serious issue and are fearful that someone walking in the area, especially a child, could so easily fall into the hole, more so at night, when it is dark, with the hole being at the centre of a pavement.
Olga Reddy (75) a pensioner from Umber Street, told the Laudium Sun, this past Saturday, “A few days ago I noticed that the manhole outside my home was open and the lid had been removed, and was nowhere to be found. I looked all around for the steel lid but could not find it. I do not know who stole the lid, but I suspect it is these nyaope guys who must have stolen it to sell it for a few rand. They steal everything and anything they can get their hands on. I am old now and cannot run behind these greedy thieves who are walking around all over, looking for opportunities to steal anything. The open manhole is not safe for our children or even adults, as they can easily fall in and get injured, when they walk on the pavement, as the hole is right in the middle of the pavement. It is not safe at all and something needs to be done urgently in order for it to be closed again. I have kept a stone nearby to warn off people from walking near it, but the stone was removed by an unknown person. Even our dogs are at risk of falling into the hole. I asked one of the neighbours to report it to the council, but to date, the council has not replaced the cover. Please, I need assistance in having this hole closed, as it poses a serious danger to all of us.”
Another Umber Street resident, Pedro Sequira, said, “We have young children, like 6-7 years old, who walk on that pavement to go to the nearby shops or even walk to nursery school. They will certainly not spot the open hole in time. I hope the council, who have been contacted already, will respond quickly so that it won’t be too late for our children’s lives. It is very dangerous around here, as the electric cables inside the manhole, it can electrocute our children.”
Councillor Mahomed Essop told the Laudium Sun, “Residents must report the matter to the council first and give them the nearest address. They must also obtain a reference number and forward it to me, so that I can follow it up.”
