A tragic incident occurred on Monday afternoon in Johannesburg, Gauteng, when a man lost his life while working inside a sewerage manhole. Emergency services were alerted just after 1 p.m., with City of Joburg EMS quickly responding to the call. Upon arrival, they found that medical personnel were already on the scene, but unfortunately, the man had already passed away.
Vision Tactical, a local security company, later confirmed the details of the incident. According to their report, the sanitation worker was trapped inside a sewer line, and despite the swift response of emergency services, the cause of death was determined to be methane gas inhalation. The company expressed its condolences to the worker’s family and colleagues, noting the inherent dangers that sanitation workers face while maintaining critical infrastructure. “This tragedy highlights the extreme risks faced by those ensuring the upkeep of vital services,” Vision Tactical said in a statement.
This incident brings to light the serious risks associated with working in confined spaces, particularly in sewage systems. Just a few months ago, in October 2024, three maintenance workers tragically lost their lives under similar circumstances in Benoni, east of Johannesburg. Reports suggested that, like the recent incident, the workers in Benoni may have been overcome by toxic methane gas, leading to their deaths by asphyxiation and drowning in the manhole. The operation to recover the bodies from the manhole was complicated by the failure of multiple sucker trucks used to drain the sewerage, necessitating a reevaluation of the recovery approach.
The rescue operation, led by Warrant Officer Chris Swanepoel, required a more specialized response. Using high-angle rope techniques and hazard material suits with breathing apparatus, Warrant Officers Martin Bann from the Ekurhuleni Water Policing and Diving Services, along with Len Willemse from the Tshwane K9 Search and Rescue, were lowered into the manhole to retrieve the bodies. Despite the difficult conditions, the bodies were successfully recovered and handed over to the Benoni South African Police Service (SAPS) for investigation.
Both incidents serve as a stark reminder of the hazards faced by workers in the sanitation and infrastructure sectors. These tragedies highlight the critical importance of safety measures and precautions when dealing with dangerous environments like sewerage systems, where toxic gases, such as methane, pose significant risks.
