Aaron Sechele Sebolai, the new mayor of the Modimolle-Mookgophong Municipality, took this message to truck drivers on Tuesday night. He was accompanied by a group of about 60 people that included traffic officials, security officers, councilors of several parties, and municipal staff.
“We are not fighting with anyone, but we do have a duty to look after the interests of our town. During one evening I counted 65 trucks parked for the night in the main street from Mampoerboer to KFC. These trucks cause damage to our roads as they bear heavy loads. There are two truck stops on both sides of town that offer these drivers a place to overnight safely,” Sebolai said.
Besides damaged road surfaces, which are clearly visible where the trucks regularly park, Sebolai is also concerned about the loads the trucks carry.
“Some of these trucks are transporting inflammable liquids and it is safer if they overnight outside of town. We want to avoid tragedy.”
Trucks parked in the main street also obscure the view of shopfronts, and break-ins happen as patrolling police officers’ views are obscured, he said.
The truck drivers were approached by traffic officials who requested them to relocate to the truck stops. It seemed that word spread quickly among the drivers as several trucks started driving out of town.
According to Sebolai, they will visit Mookgophong as well and traffic officials will continue to discourage truck drivers from staying overnight in town.
Neels Pretorius, a Freedom Front Plus councilor from Vaalwater, said that Vaalwater faces the same problem.
“I have had calls from concerned residents as young girls are seen visiting the truck drivers. This is unhealthy and we need to discourage them from parking overnight in Vaalwater as well,” he said.
A large number of trucks pass through Modimolle, Mookgophong, and Vaalwater as these towns are a thoroughfare for vehicles carrying loads to the power stations and mines in Lephalale. It is also en route for trucks transporting loads between African countries and Gauteng or elsewhere. Trucks often make use of the roads leading through Modimolle and Mookgophong to avoid paying toll fees on the N1.
