Trucks, buses flout the law on Mazisi Kunene Road

HEAVILY laden trucks and speeding buses have residents along Mazisi Kunene (South Ridge) Road anxiously awaiting disaster they say will happen in just a matter of time.

The residents have made an impassioned and urgent appeal to the city to address the problem of trucks and buses illegally using the road as part of their route.

According to residents Bruce Soutar and John Hattingh, trucks and buses have used the road for many years, leaving chaos in their wake. The men have met with Metro Police management over the past eight years to discuss the matter and raise their concerns over other problems that have arisen along the road. According to the men, the trucks not only cause extensive damage to the road and pavements, but are responsible for traffic congestion as they battle to get up the steep hills.

Soutar said the trucks were travelling along Mazisi Kunene en route to the port and the terminal in Point Road, despite the fact it was illegal to do so. “The drivers are note entirely to blame. There used to be traffic signs up restricting them from using this route and directing them to the port from the Pavilion for the Edwin Swales port entrance and the signs at the Westrdige Tennis Stadium directing them to the bulk terminal in Point Road. However, these signs have since been knocked down in various accidents and the replacement signage, which was agreed to by Metro Police, has never been actioned,” said Soutar.

He said he had presented Metro with many proposals over the years, and raised other issues including the request for speed calming, which had been denied.

“I developed the island in front of my house and asked for a pedestrian crossing to aid pupils and Cato Manor workers and children, however this was ignored,” he said.

Soutar said Metro Police had confirmed that buses were not permitted to use the route, but they did so all day every day despite it being against the law.

“The last one or two at 2am travel at 140kpm. I have 100 photos of accidents in this road, and we await disaster, for that appears the only way to get Metro’s attention. Believe me disaster will happen,” he said.

eThekwini Head of Communications, Tozi Mthethwa, said the matter had been referred to the relevant law enforcement authorities to investigate.

“They will take the necessary action in order to address the concerns raised. Metro Police recently issued more than 170 traffic fines to trucks illegally using residential roads in the uThongathi, Verulam, Durban Central and Clairwood areas. The tough stance against illegal trucking and by-law transgressions comes after the city received an increasing number of reports from residents complaining about the health, safety and environmental impacts of trucks driving and operating in their neighbourhoods. Metro police heeded the call and continue to clamp down on the scourge,” she said.

Mthethwa said to further combat the issue, the eThekwini Transport Authority had developed the ‘Integrated Strategic Framework and Action Plan’ for the eThekwini Municipal Area.

“This plan will look at all freight and logistics interventions which will be required for the next 20 years to manage and improve freight activity in the municipal area.

Regular enforcement will continue across the city,” she said.