Trucks cause damage to Umbilo infrastructure

AN Umbilo resident said something needs to be done to stop trucks from parking along Umbilo Road.

Resident at Flamingo Court, David Captain, said this has been an ongoing problem for many years, and the trucks continue to destroy infrastructure in the area.

“The trucks climb onto the pavement, they do what they want and don’t care about the damage,” said Captain.

ALSO READ: KZN Premier calls for calm after trucks unrest

While speaking to the Berea Mail, Captain showed the damage along Umbilo Road, outside the block of flats. According to the concerned resident, the crushed drain is a hazard for pedestrians.

“Students from the medical school walk along here at night, and as there are also no functioning street lights, they could easily fall and injure themselves or fall into the open drains,” he said.

The trucks have also damaged the pavements, knocked a fire hydrant and a traffic light and Captain said bollards, which were placed alongside the road previously to stop the trucks from damaging the pavements, have now been knocked over.

“The bollards have been knocked over onto the pavements and it is difficult for me to navigate around these in my wheelchair. I recently damaged the breaking system of my wheelchair when I knocked it on a bollard. It is not cheap to repair this,” said Captain.

ALSO READ: WATCH: Police clash with anti-foreign protestors in Durban

He said he has been reporting the issue to the municipality for numerous years, and previously spoke to Berea Mail about the damage the trucks have caused in the area.

“I have spoken to the municipality and to the ward councillor, however nothing has come of it,” he said.

Councillor Mmabatho Tembe has been working on this issue in collaboration with other councillors from surrounding wards which have been affected by the same issue.

Last October, a petition was formed to put an end to trucks using roads, blocking roads, damaging infrastructure and adding to the increased aging of roads, as well as litter associated with drivers of the heavy vehicles. The petition was handed to city leaders and other stakeholders and the issue was discussed in council.

Responding to a request for comment on the matter, Snr Supt Parboo Sewpersad from Durban Metropolitan Police Service said trucks that move around in the Umbilo area have business with the Port of Durban.

“There is no staging or holding area for these trucks therefore they move around and try to park somewhere as there could be delays in facilitating the truck in the time slot they were allocated. There is enforcement with trucks that are parked in contravention of bylaws, but as Metro Police we cannot be everywhere at the same time,” said Sewpersad, adding that there was also no identified space with security to store these trucks which could be carrying commodities worth millions of Rands.

He said he recommended that should a resident see a truck parked illegally, the Metro Police control room must be contacted and a patrol van will be despatched to attend.

Contact 031 361 0000 to report illegal parking of trucks.