Blue Duiker’s death sparks demand for speed humps on Umdloti’s Bellamont Road
The community emphasised the need for immediate safety measures to address speeding and protect both wildlife and pedestrians.
The death of a blue duiker hit by a car has sparked a call for speed humps on Bellamont Road in Umdloti.
Resident Robert Charter noticed the little buck lying helplessly on the winding section of Bellamont Road between Jabu Ngcobu and Club Mykonos last Wednesday morning.
He loaded the buck in his car and raced to the Rinaldo Riverside Veterinary Clinic.
“Someone had obviously knocked the buck over and left it for dead. In the car on the way to the vet it let out terrible yelling noises in total agony,” said Charter.
X-rays taken by Dr Kerry Easson revealed the adult male blue duiker’s pelvis had been shattered beyond repair and she had no choice but to euthanise the animal.
The Umdloti Conservancy was flooded with calls for speed humps to curb the issue.
Duran Richardson wrote: “How would we go about requesting speed humps to be put up? People easily reach 80km/h down Bellamont Road. Just a matter of time before a pedestrian gets knocked over.”
Darren van Vreden said drivers sped up and down Bellamont Road with total disregard for other road users and wildlife.
“I have also on many occasions had to swerve to miss having a head-on collision as people are on their phones. Wake up and pay attention. Definitely need to put in speed humps,” wrote van Vreden.
Devastated by yet another wild animal’s unnecessary death, Umdloti Conservancy member, Caroline Wiley, said between duikers and monkeys, at least one or two animals were hit by cars on that stretch of road every month.
“I actually find it unbelievable. I’ve been trying to get speed humps on that road for years. It’s one of the last sections of indigenous protected bush and the animals are just getting fewer and fewer,” she said.
eThekwini municipality spokesperson Mandla Nsele said requests for speed bumps should be emailed to eugene.naidoo@durban.gov.za or nomusa.luthuli2@durban.gov.za.
“All requests will be assessed in accordance with the city’s traffic calming policy.”
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