Trenches – a ticking time bomb

Thabazimbi/ Regorogile – A trench that aren’t properly marked and secured is a safety hazard. Passers-by can easily fall into it.

Children are always eager to explore, and these trenches pose a serious safety hazard to them. 
A trench can cave in and injure or asphyxiate a person standing or sitting in it.

It is also easy to fall into a trench if walking on the loose soil piled up next to it. If you take the heap of soil right next to it into account, the depth of the trenches around Regorogile is up to of 2.5 metres at some places.

On Wednesday 10 August, a Nissan 1400 got stuck in one of the many unsecured trenches in Regorogile. “These trenches are a cause for concern,” the message in which the photo of the Nissan was sent to the Platinum Bushvelder, reads.

According to residents in the area of these trenches, they were dug some time ago already. “The trenches go very deep at some points. Some children are allowed to roam freely and I’m afraid for their safety,” we were told.

Communications officer at Thabazimbi Local Municipality, Joshua Motsomane, says that the trenches were dug by a contractor and that it is for the new bulk-water pipeline. He added that the trenches were originally demarcated with plastic barrier tape, but that someone removed it in the meantime. 

He added that technical committee meetings to manage the pipeline project are held regularly where the municipality and other stakeholders meet. “All issues pertaining to the project will be addressed during the coming meetings,” he said.

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