Residents fix hole in M4 fence
In the past, Northglen News had reported on several attacks on cyclists and pedestrians in the vicinity of where the hole was cut.
FED-UP of waiting for the City to fix a hole in a fence running parallel to the M4 Ruth First Highway, residents have taken the matter into their own hands.
The Umgeni Estuary Conservancy team and the Eco Champs team placed additional barbed wire to plug the hole in the fence which was flagged as a security concern by residents in the area and the local ward councillor, Shaun Ryley.
The fence runs from the turret on the Ellis Brown Viaduct all the way to the entrance of the Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve.
The fence was erected in 2017 in a bid to stop the attacks on cyclists who frequent the route.
Just a few days after members of the conservancy closed the hole, another was cut. Residents again mobolised and the hole was fixed within days.
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In the past, Northglen News had reported on several attacks on cyclists and pedestrians in the vicinity of where the hole was cut.
It is believed opportunistic criminals were making use of the hole in the fence to make a quick getaway.
Siphiwe Rakgabale and members of his Eco Warriors team who look after Riverside Road for the conservancy were able to fill the holes with razor wire, not once but twice.
“The hole was cut in the fence at the beginning of June but despite emails and request no action was taken by the City. I heard one of the Durban North residents even say he would fix the hold himself. We saw the need of urgently putting up razor wire and we were able to fill the hole. Just a few days later, another hole was cut in the fence about five metres away. I’m sure in time there will be another hole cut in the fence. I believe this suspect using the hole is the one who had robbed members of the public at Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve. It could be used for a quick getaway, it’s a big problem for all those who use the pedestrian bridge,” he explained.
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His concerns were echoed by Durban North ward councillor, Shaun Ryley.
“I’m not happy about the situation. It is deeply frustrating that this keeps happening. When the fence was initially installed we did raise concerns that criminals would cut holes in the fence for whatever purposes. I’ve now put in a request to the City to possibly look at installing clear-view fencing in sections which are vulnerable. I think its commendable that members of the community are coming out and taking it upon themselves to fix these problems which the City should ultimately be fixing. Having said that, if the City put in a sturdier fence, much like the one at Virginia Beach, that would be one way to mitigate the problems experienced on the M4 pedestrian bridge,” Ryley said.
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