Concerned residents of Ramaphosa informal settlements (Road Reserve) are calling for speed humps along Elsburg Road after an 11-year-old girl was killed on March 5 after being hit by a taxi in Elsburg Road while on her way to school.
Rose Langa, a Grade Six learner at Goedehoop Primary School, was with two school friends when the taxi ploughed into them while they were crossing the road. According to resident Ntombizanele Ntshutshwana, besides the recent incident, there have been several accidents on this busy road. “A lot of motorists tend to speed along Elsburg Road, putting our and our children’s lives at risk.
When our children go to school we fear for their lives because they use that road every day. We want the Ekurhuleni municipality to consider implementing traffic-calming measures to curb motorists from speeding,” said Ntshutshwana.
Community leader Amos Phahla said the community has been calling for speed humps in the area for a few years, but their pleas have fallen on deaf ears. The victim’s father, Thomas Langa, said the family is still finding it hard to cope without their last-born child, who he described as a bubbly person.
“On that tragic day, she woke up at her usual time, bathed and went to school. We were then notified by our neighbours that Rose had been hit by a taxi. When I got to the scene, I found her lying in the street.
No father should have to go through what I went through that day. It was heartbreaking to see my child lying there.” Before the incident, Rose had been travelling from home to school with a transport service, but due to financial hardships she had to walk to school, her father explained. “She only started walking to school in February. I’m sad that my child’s dream of becoming a lawyer won’t materialise because her life was cut short,” he said.
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Reiger Park SAPS acting spokesperson Sgt Mashudu Phatela said police are investigating a case of culpable homicide. “It is alleged by witnesses the driver failed to stop when traffic wardens signalled for him to stop so that the children could cross the road. Sadly, one child was killed and another two rushed to hospital. The driver of the taxi hasn’t been arrested and the investigation continues.
A warning statement was obtained from the driver. The docket has been taken to court to take a decision to prosecute or not,” said Phatela. Ward 42 councillor Musa Nkosi she was not aware that the community want speed humps along Elsburg Road.
Now that the matter has been brought to my attention I will assist the community to apply for the installation of speed humps in the area.
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