Authorities rally to secure the M4
After several attacks on cyclists authorities have rallied their efforts to secure the crime hot spot.
FOLLOWING the recent spate of attacks on cyclists along the M4 bridge over the Umgeni River, authorities have stepped up in an effort to devise an action plan.
In May, three cyclists were attacked along the bridge. The latest victim, 21-year-old Rivers Braatvedt, was knocked from his bicycle, assaulted and robbed at knife-point in the early hours of Monday, 25 May. Between January and March the area witnessed eight attacks along the same route.
On Wednesday last week various authorities and role players met with some of the victims to discuss the issue.
According to councillor, Shaun Ryley, the meeting was well attended and yielded some excellent results.
“One of the issues highlighted was that there are three police stations surrounding the problem area: Durban Central to the south, Greenwood Park to the north-east and the Durban North station to the north-west. The stations have been working in isolation and merely pushing the criminal elements from one sector to the next. Now they will be coordinating their efforts to deal with the issue,” he said.
Efforts will also be made to get patrols on the cycle track as well as along the uMgeni River.
“We used the opportunity to highlight that the problem also involves Riverside Road, which is an extension of the cycle path,” he said.
The parks department has opted to initiate a programme to clear and maintain the area.
The alarming state of the fence along the Beachwood Mangroves on the M4 has once again been raised, as well as a suggestion to the roads department to erect a fence along the M4 at the Ellis Brown Viaduct tower to block the escape route into the mangroves.
A follow-up meeting has been scheduled for 25 June to determine the progress and success of the operation.
