Community comes together to improve child safety
The JMPD said they can only assist with patrolling in the morning.
The Jeppe CPF Sector 1 held a meeting on August 19 to address the safety of children along Albertina Sisulu Road.
This comes after two children were struck by two vehicles as they were jumping off a truck in Eight Street and 10th Avenue in Bez Valley.
The incident occurred on August 1, resulting in one child being killed. The second child is in a coma.
The SAPS, the JMPD and the JRA were invited to address the community regarding the problems and to identify solutions.
The residents of Bez Vally, Mandeville and the surrounding areas said there is a need for speed humps, educating the children about road safety and a scholar patrol along Albertina Sisulu, 6th and 8th streets.
CPF Sector 1 deputy chairperson, Ms Angie Burger, spoke about parents and schools taking responsibility for pupils because they are still too young to understand the safety of the road.
Ms Phiri, from the JMPD community outreach group, told residents of the services the JMPD is willing to give in terms of school patrolling, which will require willing parents and pupils to be part of a school patrol.
She said they can give schools patrol equipment, training and conduct presentations on road safety.
Resident also decided to compile a petition for speed humps near schools.
Teachers who attended the meeting raised concerns about parents not taking responsibility to arrange safe transport for children to and from school.
“We initiated school patrols for the little ones and tried to making the roads safer, but we were met with problems because motorists do not respect the children and their safety. That means we need parents to be involved, to take school patrols seriously,” said a high school teacher.
Teachers also raised concerns about the hawkers and men roaming the streets, who sometimes supply drugs.
The JMPD said they can only assist with patrolling in the morning and will try to talk to the school principals to allow transport to pick up the children from inside the school grounds.
