A plea by hundreds of concerned Reeston residents to have speed humps built on the deadly “Black Road” has been rejected by the Buffalo City Metro, with mayor Xola Pakati saying the request “is not possible”.
The news has disappointed many residents from the area, who registered their plea with Pakati during the 2016 coastal-region mayoral imbizo. The mayor told residents last week that although the request for speed humps on the road near Crave Meats in Reeston had been noted, their request was not possible.
“We want to make a point that whilst it is not possible to put speed humps on that road we will install concrete kerbs in the area in order to separate pedestrian walkway with the road that is used by motorists.
“This initiative would improve the safety of pedestrians.”
Pakati said BCM would only incorporate concrete kerbs installation in the next financial year’s budget.
Speaking to the Saturday Dispatch yesterday he said it would be impossible for BCM to build the humps in the area as the road did not belong to the metro, but fell under the provincial public works department’s auspices..
However, provincial public works spokesman Mphumzi Zuzile contradicted Pakati’s statement.
He said the road was no longer under the department’s care and had been handed over to BCM.
“We can’t do anything on that road because it does not belong to us.
“We have the machinery and capacity to erect speed humps. This is not our road,” Zuzile said.
Pakati said yesterday he would discuss the matter in a meeting with public works.
“We will address the matter with them, but we take note of the complaints from residents about the speeding cars in the area,” he said.
Reeston resident Lulama Ndaba said desperate residents who lived near the busy road have taken matters into their own hands.
“The cars are always speeding on that road.
“As a result, residents who live close to that road, have decided to put soil on the road in an effort to stop the cars from speeding,” Ndaba said.
She added that while the community welcomed the pedestrian walkway initiative, more needed to be done.
Another resident Nokuphumla Sodati said: “Our children are dying on that road and people are losing loved ones. We were really hoping that something will change for good. We feel like this pedestrian walkway is just a temporary solution.” — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
Hurdles in way of speed humps
The news has disappointed many residents from the area, who registered their plea with Pakati during the 2016 coastal-region mayoral imbizo. The mayor told residents last week that although the request for speed humps on the road near Crave Meats in Reeston had been noted, their request was not possible.
“We want to make a point that whilst it is not possible to put speed humps on that road we will install concrete kerbs in the area in order to separate pedestrian walkway with the road that is used by motorists.
“This initiative would improve the safety of pedestrians.”
Pakati said BCM would only incorporate concrete kerbs installation in the next financial year’s budget.
Speaking to the Saturday Dispatch yesterday he said it would be impossible for BCM to build the humps in the area as the road did not belong to the metro, but fell under the provincial public works department’s auspices..
However, provincial public works spokesman Mphumzi Zuzile contradicted Pakati’s statement.
He said the road was no longer under the department’s care and had been handed over to BCM.
“We can’t do anything on that road because it does not belong to us.
“We have the machinery and capacity to erect speed humps. This is not our road,” Zuzile said.
Pakati said yesterday he would discuss the matter in a meeting with public works.
“We will address the matter with them, but we take note of the complaints from residents about the speeding cars in the area,” he said.
Reeston resident Lulama Ndaba said desperate residents who lived near the busy road have taken matters into their own hands.
“The cars are always speeding on that road.
“As a result, residents who live close to that road, have decided to put soil on the road in an effort to stop the cars from speeding,” Ndaba said.
She added that while the community welcomed the pedestrian walkway initiative, more needed to be done.
Another resident Nokuphumla Sodati said: “Our children are dying on that road and people are losing loved ones. We were really hoping that something will change for good. We feel like this pedestrian walkway is just a temporary solution.” — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
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