The aftermath of the horror crash in neighbouring western suburb, Pinetown, has reverberated across all communities in the greater Durban metro. There is mourning and loss as families come to terms with the death of loved ones. There is pain and suffering as the injured make the slow journey back to recovery. There is outrage and accusations, finger-pointing and a whole lot of political posturing as the hot potato labelled blame is passed from pillar to post.
Campaigns have been launched to raise funds and collect donations for those who suffered the greatest loss. Those families who lost breadwinners; parents who will have to bury children and sons and daughters who face a future without a parent or grandparent. I have no doubt that every little bit is going to help those who need it the most and I applaud the efforts of those who have rallied to set up collection points and will make sure care parcels reach their intended recipients. I urge our readers to support these campaigns whether it’s by donating an item of food or offering a financial contribution, every little bit will help.
What has touched me to the core is the groundswell of support for 23-year-old Sanele May, the driver of the runaway truck. Described as a humble man who is traumatised and broken by the events of Thursday night, one cannot imagine the overwhelming burden of despair and guilt this young man has to bear. Support Sanele May is a Facebook profile that has been set up and appeals have been made for people to come forward to help Sanele who is another casualty in Thursday’s tragedy. Requests for clothing, food, trauma counselling and legal aid are on the list as well as Sanele’s own plea for a Bible, from which he will draw strength and comfort in the dark days that lie ahead.
This tragedy may have happened outside Berea borders, but it could just as easily have happened in our own backyard. Berea communities have, for a long time, appealed for more stringent law enforcement of heavies travelling through local suburbs en route to harbour depots. Rick Turner Road has had its fair share of tragedies and has the added danger of running through an area that sees a high volume of school activity. Are we going to have to wait for a similar tragedy to occur before authorities start sitting up and taking notice? Is it going to take multiple deaths and injuries to get them to enforce road traffic by-laws? What is clear is that we cannot allow our voices to be still. We have to keep up our protests. We have to hold those responsible for our safety accountable. We can never give up, even when it seems our requests have fallen on deaf ears.
Another item in this week’s Berea Mail that gave me cause for concern was the possibility of a turf war between warring groups of car guards that seems to have established itself on North Beach. The action taken by Car Watch North Beach under the banner of the Community Police Forum in putting its own registered car guards in place is to be applauded. The fact that these car guards are now the focus of brutal attacks by disgruntled vagrants and former car guards who worked this area, is cause for concern. Local residents and visitors to the beachfront have been victims of bully-tactics, intimidation and plain and simple rudeness by the group of misfits who used the opportunity to play at being car guard to their advantage.
The police assure us they are aware of the problem and are monitoring the situation with regular patrols. Let us hope the attack on the two car guards was an isolated incident and that they do not have to face any more harassment or danger. The beachfront has been upgraded at great cost, it would be a travesty if violent incidents like these attacks kept locals and visitors from visiting one of the city’s much loved attractions.
