Residents take action against pit-stop trucks
In a bid to prevent trucks from entering residential areas, both Buffels and Kiepersol streets look like service-delivery protest zones.
MALALANE – In a bid to prevent trucks from entering residential areas, both Buffels and Kiepersol streets look like service-delivery protest zones.
Property owners in the area have resorted to barricading the entrance and exit points of these streets with large tyres. Despite a stern enforcement of the law by traffic officers on drivers guilty of illegal parking in and around town, the plague of those committing this offence continues to haunt property owners in town.
However, some residents say that, since they decided to place these tyres at certain points, things have been peaceful and less damage to the roads and infrastructure was caused by trucks.
“From time to time you might see a driver trying to park or turn beyond the tyres, but overall the situation has improved,” said a resident of Kiepersol Street.
Residents said they are confident that the municipality is working towards addressing the problem, however they needed to do something to stop trucks from parking there.
“We were honestly fed up with these trucks which were using our streets for turning and parking.So we gathered as residents and decided to do something about the matter while we wait for the municipality to resolve this challenge permanently.
“None of us like the way it looks at the moment, but for the present this is what works. “We are confident that the municipality will come up with a solution.” said a Buffels Street resident who wished not to be named, and has installed reflectors on the tyres near his property.
According to the municipal spokesman, Mr Cyril Ripinga, traffic officers have been working tirelessly to prevent trucks from using the town and it’s surroundings as a pit stop.
He said, “In a bid to resolve the challenge permanently, officials have started working night shifts, and if they find a truck parked illegally, the driver will be fined,” he said.
Ripinga added that they were in the process of establishing an official truck stop in Komatipoort.
“As the mayor, Cllr Thulisile Khoza, outlined during her state of the municipality address, we are already in the process of overcoming the problem.
Working with the relevant stakeholders and traffic officials, we are definitely winning this battle.”
Meanwhile, a building is undergoing repairs after a speeding truck allegedly ploughed into it on July 3. There were no serious injuries as a result of this accident
