AT 4.54pm on Friday, 8 February, I reported a traffic accident at the corner of High and Campbell street New Germany to 10111.
The very helpful man who answered told me that he would advise Metro Police. I told them there were no injuries that were obvious as both drivers were out of their cars.
My step-daughter, a guy from up the road and myself did our best to direct the traffic, as it was peak hour and there are four roads leading into the circle, which shortly became chaos because of taxis driving on the pavement and over the circle.
At 5.27pm I called Metro Police on 031 361 0000, to ask why they were not here. The rude arrogant guy who answered the phone told me that as by my own admission I had not called him so he did not know about it.
He also told me to hold on as he “had to see if he could find the road”. Really? Metro with no idea of local roads, especially one as big as this traffic circle?
Amazing that three ambulances and three tow trucks arrived within five minutes. Must have been called by the fairies.
Traffic was chaotic and two taxis deliberately tried to run me over driving on the wrong side of High Street, swearing at me, and closing their windows as they drove past me. So brave we are.
Several other motorists swore at us in spite of the fact that we were trying to help, and did not cause the delay in the first place.
Three SAPS vehicles with two uniformed people in each drove past and paid no attention.
Metro Police never arrived at all. So the person who created the accident, who said she had “left her driver’s licence at home” will not get any kind of fine. Nice service Metro.
The fact that there was not another serious accident is only due to our efforts in controlling the traffic as best we could for nearly 30 minutes until the rush was over, and a tow truck managed to move one of the vehicles out of the way.
I asked an ambulance driver to move his vehicle out of the way as it was blocking an entire lane of High street, just adding to the traffic chaos. He was not needed for his paramedic skills as there were no injuries.
He told me he was protecting the damaged car. New aspect to being a paramedic I had never heard of.
This accident has been a long time coming and will certainly happen again. Someone is going to get seriously hurt before very much longer.
My opinion of Metro Police has degraded even further that it originally was, and I ask why are they allowed to do nothing? Their constant cry about needing certified affidavits is nothing more than a pathetic excuse to be paid for doing nothing.
They don’t seem to need them for issuing parking tickets which they do frequently.
Neville Matthews
New Germany
(This letter has been shortened)
ED: This letter was sent to Metro three weeks ago for comment. No response, no surprise.
