UPDATE: Mackenzie Park road closures

The City of Ekurhuleni has confirmed it has not received an application for the closure of Sakabula and Gannet avenues in Mackenzie Park Ext One.

Spokesperson Zweli Dlamini told the Benoni City Times that the municipality was not aware of the closures and they did not receive or comment on any application for a road closure.

The City Times reported on November 16 that some residents were unhappy with the decision to close certain entrances to the suburb.

They explained this was done without the approval of all residents and that it was an inconvenience for residents residing on both streets.

Dlamini commented that according to the city’s by-laws, residents don’t have a right to just close roads without following proper procedure.

Also Read: Mackenzie Park residents unhappy with road closures

“The only way that these roads can be legally ‘closed’ is in terms of the councils’ approved policy for the restriction of access to public places for safety and security purposes or to apply to the council to close these roads and buy them from the council, in which case they will become private roads.”

Dlamini said the municipality is legally bound to remove any hazards or obstructions within public roads the moment they become aware of them.

“If we fail to do so, then we have failed in our legal obligation to the road-using public (both motorists and pedestrians). The proclaimed public roads are owned by the general public.

He said the Road Traffic Act (29/1989) section 113 states inter-alia that “no person shall wilfully or unnecessarily prevent, hinder or interrupt the free and proper flow or passage of traffic on a public road and that subject to the provisions of this Act or any law, no person shall place or abandon or cause to be placed or abandoned on a public road any object that may endanger or cause damage to traffic on such road”.

Also Read: UPDATE: Skeletal remains found in house in Mackenzie Park