According to Themba Sibiya, communications manager at TCLM, the municipality decided to reroute the ore-carrying vehicles to avoid continuous and serious damage to roads.

“The truck companies do not want to comply and have opted to take the municipality to court. They argue that a negative financial impact will be incurred should their trucks not be allowed to use certain town roads for freight carrying. Unfortunately, the municipality incurs thousands of rands’ worth of damage to its roads, which is not being considered. We have the backing of the Lydenburg/Mashishing Business Chamber and the tourism industry and plan to oppose the matter when it goes to court.”

READ: By-laws will not stop the trucks

TCLM had a meeting on May 19 to discuss the rerouting and was supposed to move forward with the decision, but the key parties (truck companies) did not attend, pending the legal matter. “The attitude from some of the companies indicated that they did not want to be part of the solution (fixing the roads and rerouting their trucks).

They are refusing to comply with the alternative routes, stating that it will affect them financially. There is an urgent notice against the municipality to stop the rerouting of trucks. “They are damaging the roads, making money while the municipality is suffering. The drivers also ignore the road signs and the Long Tom Pass cannot continue to accommodate heavy trucks. “The municipality has fixed the roads continuously and the very same trucks are damaging them. The municipality does not have the resources to constantly fix the roads. The trucks are also damaging pipes, storm water drainage system and pavements, as they stop wherever and whenever they want,” a recent statement by the municipality read. TCLM went further to state that a forum was established to deal with the diversion of the trucks.”

ALSO READ: PETITION AGAINST TRUCKS

“The forum should compile a technical report to assist the legal department in fighting the truck companies. The trucks should be redirected to use De Clerq and Potgieter streets heading out with Viljoen Street as an alternative while the dispute with truck owners is pending.

The economy is suffering and the forum should join hands and assist the legal division.” The forum said De Clerq and Potgieter streets will not be accessible and that the trucks are damaging the traffic lights which are costly to fix.

TCLM is not backing down, despite being threatened with legal action and has indicated that while it is still waiting for the court’s decision, trucks will be redirected and that traffic officers will and must ensure the enforcement of the law and rerouting of trucks.