Ouklip deaths: Tragedy still fresh
"I will not rest until I have found a solution" – councillor.
While friends and family still visit the accident scene that claimed the lives of two men in their mid 20s, Ward 83 Councillor Suzanne Clarke says she will not rest until she has found an amicable solution to the problem in Ouklip Road.
“I have a meeting with the MMC of Transport at 2.30pm on Thursday 8 August to discuss the issues on Ouklip Road. I need residents to know that I will not rest until we have found a solution to the problem.”
Early on Sunday morning 30 June, two young men, Christo Oosthuizen and Stefan Botha crashed into a tree on Ouklip Road. Oosthuizen tragically died on scene while Botha passed away in hospital the next day.
“I am saddened by the deaths of these men and my deepest and sincere condolences go to their families. I pray that God will give them the strength to get through this sad period.
Oosthuizen en Botha’s death not being the first on this road, the Record told the councillor that it is clear that something has to be done to stop fatal accidents from occurring again.
Asked how she thinks this can be done, she replied, “My concerns regarding Ouklip is the reckless driving and speeding of motorists and I want residents to know that since this issue was brought to my attention in 2012, my ward committee and I have tried to come up with solutions for this road.
“I have asked the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) to conduct speed trapping and I hear some residents will warn each other about these speedtraps, which defeats the purpose.
“I have asked JMPD to conduct roadblocks which they confirmed that they have pulled over a number of intoxicated people. I have requested the Johannesburg Road Agency (JRA) for stop streets and their response was that it would cause more accidents. I have requested a traffic circle at the corner of Graphite and Ouklip Road but it was turned down.”
The councillor is full of hope that her meeting with the MMC will be positive.
“I want to ensure residents that I have been working on the Ouklip Road situation continuously and believe that the MMC can help in this regard, but it could be a long process.”
