City’s ‘lack of empathy’ slated after Mitchells Plain boy falls into open manhole

Cape Town – The family of a 10-year-old Mitchells Plain boy who fell down an uncovered manhole on New Year’s Day, have been left outraged by what they described as a lack of empathy from the City when they reported the incident.

Uzair Gideon fell down the manhole when he and three of his cousins were on their way to visit a relative in Wildwoods, Mitchells Plain.

The boy’s uncle, Jody Langeman, said after the alarmed family contacted the City about Uzair’s ordeal, they only received confirmation that a complaint had been logged for a missing manhole cover, with no concern for the boy, who could have been seriously injured.

Langeman said he feared what might have happened to Uzair had his cousins not been there.

“It was only because Uzair was not alone that he did not end up stuck inside that manhole. This uncovered manhole is right next to Highlands Drive, and had it been a younger child or a senior citizen, it could have been so much worse,” he said.

The boy, who suffered bruising, was taken to hospital by ambulance while residents covered the manhole with a piece of wood as they waited for the City to replace the cover.

Langeman said he was later contacted, through social media, by the ward councillor and other City officials.

Uzair’s father, Ighsaan Gideon, said he was on his way home when he

was told about the incident and immediately turned to his close friend, Damian Jantjies, of Blackheath, whose 2-yearold son Shaygan drowned last April

in an underground sewerage system

after falling through a grass-covered

hole next to a drain. 

“I immediately thought of

Damian and what happened to

Shaygan, but Uzair just got injuries

to his back, arms and other bruising. 

"My son is in shock and he struggled

to sleep, too scared to close his eyes.

I am very angry that this could

happen and I won’t leave this matter

here,” he said. 

Gideon said his son was

withdrawn since the ordeal and the

family continued to monitor him

and his injuries. 

Ward councillor Joan Woodman

said she had contacted Gideon and

he said he was too tired to speak,

and asked her to call back. 

“I wanted to enquire regarding

his son and to inform him that I

have escalated the matter to the

mayco member for water and waste

services, Xanthea Limberg, and the

superintendent for the stormwater

department. 

"I will also visit the area

and intend to visit the family as well;

but the City’s officials yesterday did

fix the drain,” she said. 

Acting media manager A’Eysha

Kassiem said: “The City is pleased to

note that the child was not seriously

injured. Incidents like these, as

a result of vandalism/theft, are

especially concerning. 

"We therefore

depend on our residents to timeously

report missing, stolen or vandalised

covers, particularly where they create

a safety risk. This particular missing

cover was only reported to the

City on Wednesday. 

"The roads and

stormwater department replaced the

missing cover and the manhole was

made safe.” 

Kassiem said the family could

submit a claim application to the

City’s insurance claims section for

compensation, which would then be

assessed on its merits.

Cape Times

• Manhole cover theft costs City of Cape Town millions