Church manhole turns into fishing spot!

A MANHOLE in Shallom Christian Church, Block KK, Jukulyn, Soshanguve, has transformed into a lake.

This is due to alleged neglect over the past five years.

Residents blame the manhole for recent flooding, which has impacted over 200 households in the area.

Surprisingly, some locals are taking advantage of the situation.

When Daily Sun visited the area on Wednesday, 19 February, they found residents fishing in the manhole using handmade rods crafted from dried cane and fishing line, complete with fat maggots sourced from the rich soil nearby.

Patrick Baloyi, one of the fishermen, said: "Unemployment is high, and young people don't have much to do. During the day, we sit, catch fish, and provide for our families."

He said, surprisingly, they're not keen on the city fixing it because abahlali benefit from it.

However, not everyone is pleased with the situation.

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Other residents are worried about the safety of community members, particularly kids who often play soccer in the churchyard.

Sarah Takalani said: "The city is reactive rather than proactive. They're waiting for a kid to fall in and die before they fix this manhole."

She also highlighted danger posed by snakes, poisonous crabs, and spiders due to overgrown bushes and weeds.

Two weeks ago, abahlali killed a 2m-long python.

Ward 27 Councillor Joseph Shimi claimed he had never reported any incidents of this nature because the community never informed him.

"According to my understanding, it's a stormwater drain that ends up inside the churchyard, which requires sidewall pave ways to direct water to the Jordan River, about 2km from the church," he said.

Shimi said he would follow up and get it unblocked.

City of Tshwane spokesman Lindela Mashego confirmed the city doesn't have a reference number for the blocked manhole at the local church in their system.

"We don't have any records of this reported sewer/stormwater or manhole blockage at Shallom Christian Church in Block KK. Their details are not even on the internet, according to our regional maintenance team," he said.

Mashego said they would do a follow-up on the matter.