Domestic worker concerned over N2 pedestrian bridge muggings

A LOCAL domestic worker says she has been left traumatised after witnessing an attack on the newly built pedestrian bridge at the Mount Edgecombe/Umhlanga Interchange.

The 432m long pedestrian bridge was unveiled along with the interchange in October last year and runs over the N2 connecting to new footways. The entire interchange was built at a cost of R1.1-Billion and the pedestrian bridge was supposed to improve for the safety of pedestrians.

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But Linda Msweli, a 49-year-old domestic worker from Stanger said she has been working in the Somerset Park area for 14 years. To avoid crossing the busy N2 Msweli she uses the pedestrian bridge everyday to travel to and from work – a 10 kilometre walk. Still reeling in shock Msweli said the horror unfolded on 28 August at 4.30pm when she witnessed a mugging where a young woman was attacked by two knife-wielding men who made off with her handbag.

The woman, according to Msweli was grazed with the knife and not injured too badly but the incident was enough to leave her fearing for her own life.

“Before this whole incident happened, we would see blood stains along the bridge but it has never caught our minds that there were muggings happening, until I was asked by one of the other domestic workers who works in the Somerset Park area. She told me that I mustn’t walk alone because there have been recent muggings happening,” said Msweli.

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What’s more the bridge is dark as there are no streets lights. Msweli believes that the street light cables have been ripped out by thieves.

“Its difficult to see a person coming towards you when you are on that bridge. We are not complaining about the new bridges that have been built but ever since, we have become targets left, right and centre. I’ve seen that there are two security guards that have been recently placed on top of the Millennium Bridge after the reports that there were numerous muggings happening. But we need more attention paid to this situation. If we don’t use the bridge it would mean we would have to cross the N2 because the taxi drops us on the N2.”

She said she decided to express her fears as she believed she might become the next victim. “We will appreciate it if we could receive the same treatment on this long pedestrian bridge. Once you are on it, if someone comes for you there is nowhere to go,” she added.

Durban North SAPS Captain Raymond Deokaran said there were no cases opened on the day of the incident mentioned by Msweli. He did however, confirmed that there had been other arrests for common robberies that took place on Millennium Bridge.

“In July, a man was arrested at The Crescent in connection with common robberies that have been taking place at Millennium Bridge for some time. Since then, no cases have been reported, ” said Deokaran

Deokaram urged the community, especially the pedestrians, report any robberies.

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