N12–R28 intersection problems reach boiling point
Police: The N12 is a crime and collision hotspot.
The N12–R28 intersection in Westonaria has long been a problem. Now it’s reached boiling point.
Colonel Selvan Moonsamy, station commander at the Westonaria Police Station has spoken out about the issue, calling it a crime and collision hotspot.
It is not the first time the N12 has come to the attention of the police. Sergeant Linkie Lefakane, spokesperson for the Bekkersdal Police, has previously complained about the road and how often criminals – especially hijackers – strike at their victims there.
The intersection itself falls under the jurisdiction of the Westonaria Police, but the N12 going towards Johannesburg falls into the area controlled by the Bekkersdal Police.
Moonsamy explained that the intersection is dark, which makes for regular collisions that cause havoc. “In the evenings, the intersection is jammed with traffic for metres on end and this is when drivers get impatient and drive recklessly, which leads to accidents. Some drivers even go off-road in an attempt to skip the traffic –and that’s also unsafe,” he said.
Moonsamy suggests the installation of traffic lights at the intersection to prevent these traffic-jams. He also recommends that lights be put up to increase visibility.
He added that bumper-to-bumper traffic can result in criminal incidents, because motorists are sitting ducks while stuck in their cars. Not only that – the bushes around the intersection create opportunities for criminals to carry out their activities. “Crime goes down when the grass is cut. The grass must be cut regularly, or people will ultimately be targeted,” he said.
Hawkers and hitch-hikers are also a concern to Moonsamy. He said motorists give often lifts to strangers and drop them off at the intersection, leaving them vulnerable. Similarly, criminals sometimes pose as hitch-hikers and hawkers and rob or hijack motorists.
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