Fears for worker missing in water tunnel

Transnet speeds up capex. File image Photo: supplied

Transnet speeds up capex. File image Photo: supplied

Published Oct 30, 2014

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Durban - A veteran Umgeni Water employee who fell into a water tunnel on Tuesday night – apparently after the metal cover was stolen – is still missing, causing much anxiety to his colleagues and family.

James Mnyandu, 53, an artisan fitter, had been fixing a leak at one of the four aqueducts near KwaNgcolosi outside Hillcrest when he fell into the tunnel and 2m-deep water.

The water utility’s spokesman, Shami Harichunder, told the Daily News on Wednesday that Mnyandu had been with two other artisans from their asset maintenance and management department.

“After they finished with the leak, he went back for a last check and to ensure that everything was in order, and he accidentally fell into the tunnel.”

Harichunder said the metal door sealing the tunnel had been stolen and metal plates around it had been vandalised.

Although the chances of Mnyandu being found alive are slim – it is believed he might have been carried more than 35km through the tunnel – Harichunder said he would not speculate until Mnyandu was located.

“All efforts are being made to try to locate him. We are deeply concerned and will provide all the support required to free him.”

Harichunder said such incidents were uncommon and this was a “difficult” experience for all.

“It’s difficult for us; it must be extremely difficult for his family.”

The pipeline carries water 40km from Nagle Dam to the greater Durban area via the Reservoir Hills treatment facility.

Because of the strategic importance of this pipeline, it could not be completely shut down, said Harichunder. But two of the aqueducts were shut down for a few hours on Wednesday morning to allow rescuers into the 1m-diameter tunnel to search for Mnyandu.

However, it soon became clear that he had been washed further down the pipeline.

Representatives from Umgeni Water have briefed Mnyandu’s family, who live in the nearby Wushwini area.

His home overlooks the Inanda dam wall and he was familiar to staff there although he is based in the utility’s Pinetown office. His colleagues there and at other sites were reeling from shock.

Mnyandu had worked for the water utility for 30 years.

Harichunder said apart from an investigation by Umgeni Water into the incident, the Department of Labour had also sent a team to probe what went wrong.

“We are very concerned about the theft and vandalism of infrastructure; it creates dangerous situations that put our employees at risk,” he said.

Police spokesman, Colonel Jay Naicker, said their search and rescue team would this morning, extend their search to the Umgeni water works plant in Reservoir Hills, more than 35km from where Mnyandu fell.

Daily News

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