IT has been a frustrating last two months for Durban North residents who questioned what was taking the City so long to finally connect the newly installed traffic lights at the intersection of Marion and Newport Avenues. Now however, after a delay allegedly due to intimidation, the lights will be up and running soon.
The intersection has become an accident hot-spot over the years with three accidents occurring in the last three months, all of which resulted in overturned vehicles. While the City is yet to respond to allegations that a business forum disrupted installation.
The forum is well-known for targeting construction sites around the province demanding jobs.
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In some cases the forum has also requested a slice of the contracts and at times use violence and intimidation to shut down sites.
According to uMhlanga ward councillor, Heinz de Boer, the tactics of the forum were to use ‘mafia-style’ tactics.
“Last year the business forums stopped several projects of the Roads and Stormwater Department in the CBD, now it seems they have a dispute with the eThekwini Traffic Authority (ETA). There have been a spate of incidents of intimidation and violence against contractors on various sites including uMhlanga and Sibaya,” he said.
Capt Raymond Deokaran, spokesman for the Durban North SAPS said police had also responded to a similar incident in the uMhlanga CBD.
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