Umbilo bridge reconstruction links communities

WARD 33 Councillor, Fran Kristopher, and the residents of Umbilo have welcomed the reconstruction of the Umbilo Canal Bridge which will soon be complete, offering safe passage to local malls and neighbouring ward 65.

Kristopher said the bridge located at the Umbilo-Umhlatuzana River Park on Oliver Lea Drive is “about 98% complete with some minor snags and housekeeping still to do”. “The contractors said it would take four weeks to complete the bridge and they have delivered. I am extremely happy that our learners and residents will now have a more secure bridge to cross over,” said Kristopher following a recent oversight visit.

She said the project was a joint effort with Ward 65 Councillor, Samantha Windvogel, who is also delighted with the progress made in getting the bridge up. Kristopher, however, raised concerns over the safety near the park where the bridge is located in Umbilo.

She said, “People are getting robbed while crossing the bridge. Learners going to school, residents going to the mall, and domestic workers coming into the area have been victims of robberies. There are patrols along the border of the park, as there were people trying to sleep along the banks. SAPS and private security does also patrol the area but more needs to be done to ensure the safety of people using the bridge. The park is a beautiful place but we could use some floodlighting to deter crime, especially with cable theft also being a problem in the area.”

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Her concerns were shared by Umbilo Community Crime Association (UCCA) treasurer and Umbilo South Association co-founder Maria Calitz, as well as Homeland Security who are among those that patrol the area.

Calitz, who is also part of the Sector 3 Neighbourhood Watch, called for more law enforcement visibility to ensure the safety of residents. She said, “Crime is a problem in the vicinity of the park. There used to be a security guard who patrolled the area; this could help to prevent crime. They also need to cut and clear the vegetation in the park, which will make the area more visible.”

Her call was echoed by Janus Horn from Homeland Security who said, “The bridge is a vital part of infrastructure for that area. Unfortunately many pedestrians have been robbed in that area with the temporary bridge. I would love to see some of the vegetation cleared near the canal and branches of low hanging trees cut down. We need visibility. Obviously lighting would be a great help and possibly a camera linked to Metro Police to monitor any movement, especially once the sun goes down.”

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