Sidewalks are for pedestrian usage only!

Trading on and occupying sidewalks seems to have become a major trend in Krugersdorp. It does however, remain an illegal trend. People park on sidewalks, trade from sidewalks and even operate their shops on sidewalks. And the Mogale City Traffic Department is tired of issuing warnings to both motorists and the public who disobey the by-laws that regulate this behaviour.

“A sidewalk is a portion of a public road only for pedestrian usage,” said Superintendent George Tekane from the Mogale City Traffic Department. Their spokesperson, Papi Motaung, added, “And people who do not obey the by-laws and operate and sell goods on sidewalks will be fined R500”.

The News investigated the streets of Krugersdorp with Papi recently, and found several illegal traders, vehicles and persons obstructing the sidewalks.

While driving through Krugersdorp, we saw that pedestrians had to walk in the road instead of on the sidewalks, because traders make use of more than 70 per cent, obstructing the sidewalk space. According to George, this is very dangerous as pedestrians can get killed by passing vehicles.

The biggest problem was beauty salons doing hair in the middle of the sidewalk. Parents with babies in prams could not get past and had to move onto the busy road instead. As we approached these sidewalk users, they quickly ran away, taking all of their belongings with them. When asked why they operate on the sidewalks instead of in their shops, they told the News that they did not know they weren’t allowed to do business there, and besides, it was very good publicity for them to work on the sidewalks.

Another issue that was raised was community members parking vehicles on sidewalks. One person has parked two old rusted cars on the sidewalk, blocking the sidewalk off completely, forcing people to walk in the street to get past them.

“And yet,” said George, “Regulation 3056(1)(e) states: ‘No person shall park a vehicle on a public road’ “.

A third issue was panel beaters and mechanics who park their customers’ cars on the sidewalks until they get round to fixing them. The News saw how two people had to walk from the sidewalk down into the road just to get past the cars standing on the sidewalk.

According to George, the Traffic Department is not even supposed to give the public warnings – they should know that sidewalks are not a parking or operating place. People who disobey the rules will have to pay for towing and storage of their vehicles, and will be fined.

The Mogale City Traffic Department has the entire community’s interest at heart and wants to protect them all, but warns sidewalk traders that the by-laws must be obeyed.

Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at krugersdorpnews@caxton.co.za or phone us on 011 955 1130.

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