Fed-up Belfast residents turn to extortion, claim ‘toll fees’

Mines and transport companies in Belfast are being held ransom by ’a group of troublemakers’ allegedly claiming ‘toll fees’ for using the R33 leading to Stoffberg.

The town is said to have an average of 400 trucks passing through daily with roleplayers now forced to come up with plans about the deteriorating roads.

A mine employee, who requested anonymity, turned to the Middelburg Observer, saying that the police have failed to prevent the ongoing illegal closure of the road by disgruntled residents.

Trucks ‘forced’ to pay

The source explained that the exit to Stoffberg, close to where the R33 crosses with Joubert Street, has been sporadically closed by residents for two weeks, with the extortion of truck drivers for money being the final straw.

It is said that while the R33 has been upgraded, the stretch coming into Belfast is gravel, and residents are complaining of dust caused by heavy motor vehicles.

“The residents have gone as far as to drop mounds of sand in the road to block it off, preventing heavy motor vehicles from passing through,” the source said.

The source further divulged that transport companies have reported the matter to the SAPS, who responded to the scene on Monday to clear up the road. However, on Tuesday the residents returned, and the illegal road closures continued.

Truck owner confirms toll fees

The newspaper confirmed with the owner of a truck company that his driver was told to pay R50 for ‘toll fees’ if he wanted to pass.

The businessman also requested anonymity.

“My truck drives that route every day and for over a week we couldn’t pass the barricades. The group then extorted R50 out of my driver [to pass], but two trips a day makes it R100.”

According to the businessman, the only alternative route is an off-road track through the bushes, but the track is in bad condition.

“They also threaten and intimidate motorists with violence if they get caught using it,” the businessman said.

All motorists targeted says councillor

DA Ward Councillor Danie Janse van Rensburg said he cannot confirm that a group of residents are claiming toll fees but has heard such reports.

“These are troublemakers who allegedly claimed fees from all motorists and not just truck drivers.”

Janse van Rensburg confirmed that Public Order Policing and the SAPS were dispatched to clear up the troublemakers.

He said the dust issue has been ongoing for several months after the R33 was recently upgraded by a mine, and a stretch of 700 – 800m of the road has been turned to gravel by the high volume of trucks.

“We have an average of 400 trucks passing through town daily, and they are damaging the roads. We have made a list of 22 transport companies which regularly pass through town.”

‘Tense meeting’ leads to temporary solution

A previous meeting resulted in an agreement that the road would be sprayed with water to compound the dust at the expense of a mine.

“The road was sprayed for several months until the mine stopped paying the resident appointed to do so,” said Janse van Rensburg.

He said a tense meeting between the mines, council, residents and the transport companies was held on Tuesday, where it was agreed that one of the mines would resume spraying the gravel stretch with water.

“The outstanding sum of R76 000 owed to the resident who sprayed the road previously will be paid between a mine and transport company.

“The issue is resolved for the next three months when we will have another meeting between the community, council and the 22 transport companies.

“The municipality is also in the process of liaising with a local mine to fund the tarring of the gravel road, but that will only come to fruition in next year’s budget,” said Janse van Rensburg.