KEY POINTS
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Court awarded Yende 50 percent damages for Johannesburg manhole injury.
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City admitted limited resources for stormwater drain inspections.
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Theft of manhole covers continues to pose major public safety risk.
The theft and vandalism of manhole covers in Johannesburg recently came under scrutiny after a serious pedestrian injury incident.
A Soweto resident fell into an exposed manhole and sustained injuries while hurrying to catch a taxi from Chris Hani Road.
Sizakele Yende sued the City of Johannesburg in the Gauteng High Court and sought damages following the painful incident.
Johannesburg manhole injury prompts partial damages award
The court acknowledged the City’s obligation to maintain manholes and protect the public from hazardous infrastructure on pavements.
However, it also found Yende partly responsible, stating she should have paid attention while walking along the pavement.
Yende testified that she had been rushing home from Maponya Mall with groceries when she decided to walk towards the taxis. As she looked for a taxi, she unknowingly stepped into the uncovered manhole and fractured her ankle badly.
She described the hole as square-shaped and dark, with no visible warnings or signage to alert pedestrians nearby. People passing by helped her out of the manhole, but the damage to her ankle had already occured.
City admits resource limitations in manhole inspections
According to IOL, a manager from Johannesburg Road Agency testified that their maintenance team faces major limitations due to personnel shortages.
He confirmed there were only six inspectors in that region, and the agency relies heavily on the public to report defects.
The manager said the specific manhole involved was a stormwater drain and explained their four-day repair turnaround target. He mentioned that the metro area inspects stormwater drain lids twice a year to prepare for periods of heavy rainfall.
With approximately 2,500 stormwater drains under management, the City struggles to conduct more frequent inspections due to low staffing. Although the theft of manhole covers poses challenges, he said the City continues to work towards maintaining public safety.
The court ruled that both Yende and the City bore responsibility and ordered the City to pay fifty percent in damages.
