Empangeni residents speak out on local issues
Councillors interacted with residents their concerns, which would be put forward to city council
RECURRING issues were the focus of Empangeni’s ward 23 public meeting held at the Empangeni Civic Center last Monday evening.
Councillors interacted with residents their concerns, which would be put forward to city council.
A major concern from the previous meeting was that of the open space between the Empangeni Fire Station and Boxer, near the Taxi A Rank.
It is said stolen goods are often dumped there before being moved elsewhere.
The issue has reportedly been addressed with council before, but to no avail.
City spokesperson Mdu Ncalane said he would have to check what is planned for the area and would respond in due course.
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Local issues
Potholes, water leaks, traffic flow, as well as policing were among the other issues highlighted.
Residents said potholes would continue to be a problem if the city continues to fill the them instead of digging up the section affected and starting afresh.
The issue of Empangeni’s Main Road (R34) was also discussed as residents expressed concern about vehicles racing down the stretch past the Empangeni library towards the Rail.
The ZO recently questioned the city regarding the implementation of traffic cameras at the Central Park intersection where two major accidents were recorded this year – one in which a member ofSAPS Empangeni FCS Unit died horrifically, and one in which ten people were injured when a taxi overturned.
‘The issue of cameras is mainly to monitor criminal activities, but will obviously assist in prosecuting reckless drivers,’ Ncalane said at the time.
‘It will to a certain extent assist in enforcing the traffic rules, but accidents and drivers breaking the rules of the road are not caused by the unavailability or availability of the cameras.
‘Traffic rules infringements are a national social ill and driver behaviour needs to change.’
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