Concerned resident writes by email:

With reference to the letter in the Brakpan Herald’s May 15 edition, “Taking action against loud neighbours”.

This would be laughable if the reality on the ground weren’t so dire. The emergency numbers, emails, and WhatsApp lines provided to residents are an absolute farce.

We call them every single weekend, only to be met by “Ghosts of No Help Available.”

I invite municipal management and the EMPD to spend a weekend in Gert Bezuidenhout Street, Minnebron.

This is no longer a peaceful residential area. It has degenerated into an unregulated, chaotic race track for off-road bikes.

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Every weekend, adults and minors alike treat our public road as a private playground.

This kicks off every Friday night in pitch darkness. Because off-road bikes lack headlights, indicators, and registration, these riders tear up and down the road blindly, endangering themselves and everyone else. This reckless behaviour continues until Sunday evening.

Despite compiling extensive photographic and video evidence and submitting formal reports, absolute silence is the only response we receive.

Living here has become psychological torture. Our children cannot study for their exams, and residents cannot enjoy a fraction of peace in their own homes.

Under the National Road Traffic Act, it is strictly illegal to operate off-road vehicles on public roads, and it is a severe offence to allow unlicensed minors to do so.

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If, or when, a fatal accident occurs, who will claim responsibility?

The EMPD and Ekurhuleni officials are completely missing in action. Why distribute helpline numbers if there is no political will or manpower to enforce the law?

As law-abiding, rate-paying citizens, we are mentally and emotionally depleted.

It is deeply tragic that these riders have zero respect for their neighbours, but it is disgraceful that our local authorities have abandoned us.

We are turning to the newspaper because public exposure is clearly the only tool left to force municipal and EMPD accountability.

Editor’s note: Comment is awaited from the EMPD and City of Ekurhuleni.