Rhodesfield residents and e-hailing operators in tug-of-war

Residents of Rhodesfield have said they are fed up with e-hailing drivers who park outside their properties.

The residents said the drivers started parking outside their properties in April and the matter has been a contentious one ever since.

Several residents spoke to the Kempton Express on condition of anonymity.

“Initially, the drivers were chased away by gunmen with BMWs. They then started parking under the Gautrain bridge.

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“The drivers were then chased away by taxi drivers. In June they returned and have been making our lives miserable.”

Residents said they feared for their lives.

“We feel unsafe, annoyed and tired of the on-and-off chases between cars. This place is no longer safe as the drivers do as they please,” said one resident.

“The drivers speed up and down the road without consideration for the children playing outside or even dogs running in the street.”

Residents told the Kempton Express that they have had to be extra careful every time they leave their houses.

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“This is the first time we have ever experienced something like this,” said another resident.

“We are living like prisoners in our own homes.”

Another resident said there has been an increase in criminal activity in the area including hijackings and robberies.

“My husband was hijacked in front of our gate when he arrived home one day.

“One driver on refugee status with a dodgy RSA license ran into my car three houses down from my gate,” said one of the residents.

“I wish the EMPD could fine them for parking here.

“They threaten us when we ask them to drive carefully because of the children in the area. When we get the police involved they simply tell us that they will be back.”

A resident who spoke to the Kempton Express said they had not left their home in two months.

“We are afraid of break-ins, there are so many cars around. We are afraid to go to the shops. We cannot even go to our front yards because we have no privacy. Our family and friends are afraid to come and visit.”

Another resident said drivers carelessly throw their litter out of their vehicles onto the grass and residents are left to pick everything up.

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EMPD spokesperson Kelebogile Thepa said the EMPD was aware of the matter and it was continually being monitored.

She said vehicles may be stopped where they don’t constitute danger or as stipulated by the National Road Traffic Act.