Glenwood residents streamline system to report trucks

RESIDENTS in Glenwood and the Bluff are fed up with truck drivers using residential roads to access the Durban Port.

The South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) has launched a campaign to assist residents in reporting trucks in their area. Glenwood resident, Bruce Soutar who lives on Mazisi Kunene Road, said the issue has been ongoing since 2015.

“The people I have been negotiating with have agreed that it’s wrong and there are serious shortcomings in the design of the roads. They agreed that signs should start notifying the truck drivers from The Pavilion shopping mall, directing them to Edwin Swales Drive so they can access the container depo a lot better. Further signage should be erected at Tollgate Bridge limiting tonnage allowed,” he said.

“They come down Mazisi Kunene Road and take the corner on Haraldeen Road and they can’t make the corner because these trucks are 32 wheelers. There was a fire hydrant there and I asked the municipality to put a bar in to protect the fire hydrant. Not only do they squash the hydrant right out of the road, but signs are broken and they even hooked the cable which can pull down the electric pole,” he added.

ALSO READ: The ins and outs of safely navigating laden trucks around corners

Another area of concern is the intersection of Maze Road and Mazisi Kunene Road. This intersection is a 13 way intersection involving Marists Road, Alan Paton Road and Haraldeen Road.

While a sign prohibits 13 ton or larger trucks from going up Maze Road toward Mazisi Kunene, there is no signage to deter trucks from travelling down Maze Road toward JB Marks Road.

“Sometimes they jam on the corner. I see trucks come past here at least three times a day,” said Soutar.

Addressing the problem

The issue continues in the Bluff, said Shanice Firmin, SDCEA project officer for development infrastructure and climate change who is encouraging residents to join their campaign.

“We tried to make the campaign community friendly for anyone who wants to be the eyes and ears for their community. SDCEA has developed a Google trucking form to assist communities to record information about their complaint logged with Metro Police. We want communities to start making a noise and logging their complaints by putting power in their hands to make a difference. Through the Google form, the information is automatically recorded and then we follow up within a 24 hour period. We would follow up on what action has been taken by Metro Police. It’s also to accommodate those who waited on the telephone line for 15- 20 minutes and were not able to log their complaint or receive a reference number, they can fill out the form and we will complete the process,” she said.

The form is for people who have logged a formal complaint through Metro Police or those who have not been able to report the incident. In the event that people don’t have data, they can WhatsApp SDCEA. To access the form, follow the link:bit.ly/33Isbe1. For more information, contact Shanice Firmin on 069 118 4227 or email: truckingcampaign21@gmail.com.

The eThekwini Municipality did not send their comment at the time this article went to press.

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