Councillor demands answers over ongoing traffic chaos in Sunninghill
Ward 93 Councilor Vino Reddy has criticized the lack of response from the authorities and is urging them to take responsibility for repairing their infrastructure.
Ward 93 councillor Vino Reddy is demanding answers from the Johannesburg Road Agency (JRA), Gauteng Provincial Department of Roads and Transport (GPDRT), and Eskom, over the ongoing traffic chaos at the corner of Witkoppen and Leeuwkop roads where traffic lights have been out of order for months.
Despite numerous reports to JRA and the GPDRT, the councillor claims no action has been taken to repair the traffic lights, which leads to dangerous driving conditions and gridlock.
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In a scathing email, seen by Fourways Review, Reddy sought an explanation from the respective authorities for the failure of their infrastructure, specifically querying whether cabling issues were to blame.
Reddy has also requested a direct response from Eskom, urging them to explain why the necessary repairs have not been carried out if the traffic lights are not working due to cabling.
“JRA is quiet on the WhatsApp signals group. Despite engaging with all respondents chaos reigns supreme while the traffic lights at major intersections on Witkoppen and Rivonia roads, and Maxwell Drive, remain unattended, some since January, and the intersection of Leslie Road and Sparrow Drive, in Magaliessig, has been down since April 2023.
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“There are various issues that contribute to this problem, hence Eskom was copied on this email, but both JRA and GPDRT are responsible for ensuring their infrastructure works and ensuring that it’s repaired when reported.”
He said the traffic lights that are out in Sunninghill, and the greater ward, have been reported to both JRA, the transport department, and escalated to Region A, yet none have been repaired.
“I always get complaints from residents and try by all means to escalate them to relevant authorities. It is so frustrating to be met by their lack of response. There have been minor accidents so far at the intersection, fortunately, nothing hectic has happened yet.”
When contacted for comment, the road agency’s Bertha Peters-Scheepers redirected our query and said the intersections belong to the Province and are being maintained by them.
Reddy said, “there’s been little to no response from GPDRT, with the exception of reference numbers from signals.”
Efforts to reach the province’s media and communication liaison, Melita Madiba, both on WhatsApp texts and phone calls, were fruitless for three consecutive days before going to print.
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