Kwa-Mathambo residents welcome speed humps
In 2017, Grace Nkambule (67) was killed while asleep in her home after a car ploughed through several shacks.
RESIDENTS of Kwa-Mathambo Informal Settlement have welcomed the installation of five speed humps on Old North Coast Road. Residents, businesses and ward councillor, Bobby Maharajh, had put pressure on the City’s eThekwini Traffic Authority to act following a string of accidents and one death.
In 2017, Grace Nkambule (67) was killed while asleep in her home after a car ploughed through several shacks. In June last year a 7-year-old was seriously injured as he was struck in an alleged hit-and-run incident.
Bheki Jonathan, a member of the settlement, said he welcomed the addition of the speed humps but said more needed to be done to stop any further accidents from occurring.
“We are grateful for these speed humps as it will reduce the speed of motorists using this road. Since I’ve been here, which is from 1991, there have been more than eight accidents and one death. We now would like the City and Metro Police to look at the informal taxi rank which narrows the road and is a potential hazard. We want a safe place for the youngsters of the settlement. We need Metro Police to enforce the laws and fine drivers for parking illegally,” he said.
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His words were echoed by ward councillor, Bobby Maharajh, who said he would be lobbying support to find a solution to the other problems facing Old North Coast Road.
“Like Bheki said, the taxis set up on the road makes it narrower forcing vehicles to drive closer to the settlement making it dangerous for pedestrians. The road is far too narrow to accommodate vehicles and a taxi rank. I will be meeting with City officials to speak about this problem,” he said.
Speaking on the installation of the speed humps, Maharajh said the speed-calming measures were a welcome addition to the road.
“The residents were on the front line before the speed humps were put in. I’m glad the City incorporated workers from the settlement to install the speed humps and I think it has made a world of difference. I have been contacted by some residents of the settlement who feel the distance between the speed humps near the settlement are too far apart but after hearing experts from the Roads Provision department explain it, the humps meet all the legal requirements. I strongly believe the speed humps will go some way into curbing the terrible accidents we’ve seen in the past,” he said.
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