Residents erect speed humps on busy R37

BURGERSFORT – Residents of Ga Madiseng and Riba Cross took it upon themselves to erect speed bumps along the busy R37 last Sunday. This was in protest over the high number of accidents caused by speeding motorists plying the busy road.

Angry residents told Steelburger/Lydenburg News that on several occasions they had hinted on the humps to be erected. The locals erected two bumps in the road in a bid to minimise accidents along the route.

The residents accused the Limpopo government of not heeding to their cry following a series of accidents in the area. “Last year I lost a very close friend in an accident and recently a seven-year-old schoolgirl was killed because of reckless drivers. Our livestock are always killed by motorists; we have to put this to an end,” said one of the residents who did not want his name to be revealed. Meanwhile motorists protested the move by community members saying that the bumps would lead to increased accidents as one can hardly detect them.”The speed humps are unmarked and are of poor quality, they damage cars and the area is also a hot spot for crime. There is a big chance that motorists could be robbed at night when stopping for the humps. It would be better if they put speed limits signs to prevent cars from speeding,” suggested motorist, Mr France Masake.

Limpopo Department of Transport’s communications officer, Ms Kagiso Mootane said there shouldn’t be any speed humps erected on the R37 as it was a national route. Mootane indicated that more questions should be directed to the Greater Tubatse Fetakgomo Municipality (GTFM) regarding the issue. “I believe they have a department dealing with roads and transport, they will provide more details,” she said.

Attempts to get a comment from the GTFM drew blank as the spokesman, Mr Thabiso Mokoena couldn’t be reached before the paper was printed.