WATCH: Construction site camp on Bester Street poses threat to motorists and pedestrians
The construction to the facade of the SAPS building is to fix the brickwork which started falling to the street below last year.
MBOMBELA – The lives of pedestrians in the CBD have been endangered for more than a year, as protracted construction at the police station has forced them off the sidewalk and into Bester Street’s traffic.
The site is fenced off from the public by large sheets of corrugated iron.
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The site camp covers the entire sidewalk, and extends roughly 1,5 metres into the street, cramming pedestrians into the street between the traffic and the fence. There are no visible warnings to the public.
A private health and safety consultant recently visited the scene with Lowvelder. He requested to remain anonymous for professional reasons.
He said he was concerned about the lack of compliance to occupational health and safety standards. “The site camp is built in such a way that it makes pedestrian movement highly unsafe,” he said.
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The Occupational Health and Safety Act stipulates that those performing construction must protect employees and others (the public) affected by the work from hazards to their health or safety.
The situation has been exacerbated by increased traffic in Bester Street due to ongoing construction on Fredenheim Road, which is set for completion in March, following a halt in construction due to the non-payment of contractors.
According to municipal spokesman, Joseph Ngala, the City of Mbombela is aware of the issue. “The closing of the sidewalk adjacent to SAPS due to construction is noted.
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“However, we urge pedestrians to be cautious when they walk along construction sites as they are but temporary closures and can only be allowed to run their course.”
The national Department of Public Works, the owners of the building which is responsible for compliance with safety issues, according to the consultant, did not respond to the newspaper’s request for comment.
