Swartkoppies Road still a danger for motorists
Roads in Alberton have become more dangerous for users due to drivers purposefully ignoring road rules.
The responsibility for delivering services in relation to licensing, bylaw enforcement, traffic law enforcement, and crime prevention in the City of Ekurhuleni falls under the purview of the EMPD division.
In the last three months of 2022, the Alberton Record reported on EMPD’s promise to uphold the law in Alberton’s streets.
On January 17, the Alberton Record was puzzled to see an EMPD official controlling traffic at fully functioning traffic lights at the intersection between JG Strydom and Kliprivier Road, only to find no one at the dysfunctional traffic lights at the intersection between Heidelberg Road and Swartkoppies Road.
Despite EMPD’s promise to the residents to take action, there are still daily traffic woes at the R59 on-ramp from Vereeniging’s side to join Swartkoppies Road.
Some motorists block off the third lane, which is a left turn-only lane, to turn right onto Swartkoppies Road from the R59 on-ramp.
They rush into the traffic to make an illegal right turn onto Swartkoppies after moving to the front of the line. By doing this, it impedes the free flow of traffic for those turning left and near-accidents are frequently caused and traffic on the on-ramp is delayed.
Once motorists cross the intersection, they either push their way into the lane crossing the bridge or use the yellow lane on the bridge to get to the next traffic light when they are not given the right of way to enter the natural flow of traffic. They then cross the intersection in the yellow lane to continue onto Swartkoppies Road.
The EMPD’s media liaison, Kobeli Mokheseng, claims that officers are deployed throughout Swartkoppies Road daily.
The Alberton Record has referred these inquiries to the various City of Ekurhuleni departments for comments.
The EMPD media liaison officer advises that reporting officers to the call centre at 086 054 3000 or visiting the closest EMPD precinct during business hours is the best long-term approach to prevent this from happening.
