Debris wreaks havoc to road user
Alrode’s Magnum Sand and Stone has responded in light of a local’s complaint expressing his unpleasant experience while driving on a major road.
I travel the N3 from Elands interchange to Sandton daily.
Often travelling through Geldenhuys, Gillooly’s, there is a lot of sand or grit debris that gets scattered from the cars, resulting in a sandblasting effect to the front of our vehicles.
I thought it could be from the mine dumps close by.
On June 1 at 06:00, I noticed excessive sand on the road surface at PPC and just after Geldenhuys.
I came upon a mauve or purple Magnum Sand and Stone truck leaking excessive amounts of river sand all over the road.
The front of my vehicle and windscreen was orange from what was coming out of the back of the truck and the road was full of sand.
I went on to their website and posted a review or complaint, to see six months ago someone else posted a similar complaint with no response.
This company has no respect for other people’s property they are damaging, the environment and the safety of road users.
I wonder how their storage yard operation runs concerning the environment.
Concerned resident
Magnum Sand and Stone’s response
June Jenkins of Magnum Sand and Stone acknowledged the problem and respect the complainant’s frustrations.
“A lot of tipper trucks coming from the Vaal going north loads a product called plaster sand and yes, the product is exceptionally wet. Unfortunately, Magnum Sand and Stone have been crucified in this specific case. The purpose of branding our trucks is to get feedback from road users for any unsafe driving,” she said.
She said there are several non-branded trucks that have the same problem.
In a statement, she said the open cast mine they load from is owned by a big conglomerate organisation and has been putting pressure on them.
“The last several months we all have seen no improvement at all. Despite weekly meetings pleading, showing their videos through WhatsApp, the only solution Magnum Sand and Stone has is to park the trucks, putting 70 plus people’s jobs at risk,” said Jenkins.
According to Jenkins, the reason they have not done this is that they have been promised by senior management that by end of June the water problem will be a thing of the past.
“Therefore we are trying to hold out to road users’ inconvenience but also to save jobs. Work with us and help us all by putting pressure on them. Believe me, the above is not done with intent. Magnum Sand and Stone is a proud and caring organisation and tries, by all means, to keep the name high,” she said.
