Speeding car kills beloved family pet

FED-UP, frustrated and at their wits end was how a Lothian Road family described their six year ordeal with the eThekwini Municipality’s roads department. Elizabeth van Rensburg said her family are heartbroken after losing their eight month old cat to a speeding motorist. The local family have lived in the area for more than 30 years and have lost more than 15 pets all to speeding motorists. They have repeatedly called for speed humps on the busy road but feel their efforts and calls have been thwarted and blocked by the municipality.

Van Rensburg who lives across the road from Seaton Park Nature Reserve, which covers around six hectares, said a number of animals, such as monkeys, mongooses and duikers have also been killed in their numbers over the years.

“There are a number of school children who use Seaton Park to play in and spend their afternoons on swings. I’m concerned they may also be affected by the constant speeding on the road. We have had a motorist lose control of his vehicle and roll into one of the trees in the park, where hours ago, children were playing in exactly the same spot. The traffic on this road is extremely heavy, fast and dangerous. We’ve endured this situation for over 30 years and each year the traffic just gets heavier and heavier.”

Her daughter, Ellysa Entwistle, said she was heartbroken after losing Rolly, her eight month old kitten, she had rescued from a drain pipe in Newlands East.

“When we found him, his neck was bent at an angle because he was stuck down a drainpipe. Through rehabilitation he was able to straighten his neck out and was living happily until Tuesday night when we found him lying on the side of the road. He had an injury to his head. He was the most affectionate cat I’ve known and I’m heartbroken by his loss.

“I’d like to thank whoever had the decency to take him off the road and put him on the pavement but the reality is, if nothing is done, we are going to lose more animals or worse,” Ellysa said.