An ongoing debacle regarding Johannesburg sidewalks that are dug up for installation or maintenance work and then left that way, is nowhere closer to reaching a conclusion.
In a scathing press statement, Democratic Alliance councillor Andrew Stewart has slammed telecommunication companies for allegedly digging up pavements to lay cables and conduct maintenance, and then failing to restore the pavements back to their original state.
Stewart says the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) should also take blame for the problem, as it grants permission to the telecoms companies to conduct maintenance without stipulating that they clean up after themselves.
"This attitude from telecoms is jaw-dropping," says Stewart. "In fact, it just goes to show that for all of the whining about corruption, corner-cutting, and malaise in the city of Johannesburg, big business is no better and they do whatever they are allowed to get away with."
Local regulations
FTTH Council Africa CEO Juanita Clark says there are in fact a number of conditions and stipulations in place regarding this issue. "Before any company can do civil work it has to apply for a Wayleave from the respective local authority," says Clark.
"While this may differ slightly between the local authorities, these right of way permissions are complex procedures and contain conditions for doing work in the road reserve which includes pavements. Companies typically apply Committee of Land Transport Officials Specifications for backfilling and re-instatement of roads and pavements."
She further explains that companies have to comply with health and safety regulations where roads are opened up, and in most cases have to submit a construction plan with projected timescales for the completion of projects.
"After the completion of a project, local authorities send an inspector to site for sign-off on the projects. In most cases, companies are only allowed to trench 100m to 200m a day and this work must be re-instated the same day and open trenches are not allowed."
She concedes, however, that the regulations are not always adhered to and says the FTTH Council Africa has received "a handful" of complaints in the past.
"While the FTTH Council Africa has never been approached by a DA councillor regarding any matter concerning the telecommunications industry, it was found in 99% of the cases reported that it was not the fault of telecommunications companies, but rather the city themselves upgrading electricity or other services - keeping in mind that many metros are deploying their own telecommunications networks," she says.
The FTTH Council Africa's members participated in drafting a code of conduct that they must strictly adhere to, says Clark. Should a member not adhere to this code, they risk having their membership revoked.
"Understandably, projects do go wrong, but where there is indication of pure negligence, such contractors need to be reproached," says Clark. "If it repeats itself, the FTTH Council Africa will have no alternative but to remove them from its members list."
Industry guidelines
According to Stewart, ICASA agreed in October last year to discuss the matter with telecoms companies and insist they restore pavements when completing their work.
"To date, nothing has transpired. There are still dug up pavements across the city, after a year. Answers and progress reports are still forthcoming," he says.
Clark says ICASA is currently working on the Rapid Deployment Guidelines that will promote rapid deployment of telecommunications infrastructure and enforce the rights of access for ECNS licensees, while being fairly balanced against the relevant land authority's right to claim reasonable conditions for work.
"To our knowledge, this document is nearing completion; however, we do not have a fixed date for distribution," she says.
ICASA was unable to respond by time of publication.
Share