MEDIA STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 21 June 2022
JW reservoirs and sewer network points to be isolated in aiding the search and rescue operation
Johannesburg Water officials and the authorities from the SAPS and EMS continue with the search for Khayalethu, a 6-year-old boy who allegedly fell into a sewer manhole while playing with his friends at Dlamini park, Soweto on Sunday, 12th June 2022.
The thorough search at the localized manhole entry point has not yielded any results. The manhole feeds into an outfall sewage system which leads to a wastewater treatment works. The manhole has been secured, as it poses danger to children and the community at large.
The technologies used to assist with a more detailed search, in the previous week, did not provide results, and therefore the Entity will be isolating specific reservoirs and direct feeds, as well as plugging localized sewer lines in order to reduce the flow into the larger sewer network. This will allow for the search and rescue team to inspect the sewer line.
Isolation is estimated to take place on 21 June 2022 from 20h00 to 22 June 2022 at 08h00.
The following reservoirs and direct feeds will be affected:
Doornkop West reservoir, Chiawelo reservoir, Lenasia Cosmos reservoir, Gemsbok direct feed and Protea Glen Direct feed.
These reservoirs supply the following areas:
Doornkop West Reservoir: parts of the following areas will be affected:
Thulani, Lufhereng, Doornkop, Protea Glen, Protea City, Dobsonville Gardens, Green Village, Slovoville and Dobsonville.
Chiawelo Reservoir: parts of the following areas will be affected
Chiawelo, Klipriversoog, Dhlamini, Protea Glen, Protea Gardens, Protea South, Protea North and Mapetla
Lenasia Cosmos Reservoir: parts of the following areas will be affected:
Lenasia (all extensions) and Lenasia CBD
Gemsbok Direct Feed: parts of the following areas will be affected:
Lenasia Ext 1 and 2
Protea Glen Direct Feed:
All extensions of Protea Glen
Lehae:
The area of Lehae will also be isolated during this exercise.
The plugging of specific sewer points to reduce flow, will result in blockages. Customers will note an increase in sewer blockages in the following areas:
Lenasia, Lehae, Protea South, Chiawelo and Midway Industrial
JW pleads with the community for support, understanding and patience as the team focuses on the search and recovery of the body of the missing boy. Further updates will be advised as the exercise progresses.
Details of the search results will be made available. Furthermore, we plead that the family be allowed space to get through this terrible ordeal.
ENDS