Who should pay for rock attacks?

With six reported cases of rock throwing on the North Coast, fearful motorists are calling for urgent intervention from the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) and authorities.

Following the tragic rock throwing incident on the N2 last month that claimed the lives of two young siblings, Amina Haffejee and her brother Abdul Rahim, more motorists have been targeted by a spate of similar incidents both on the N2 and the M4 highways.

Last week, Ross Paxton (43) and Kirthan Pillay (19) had their cars stoned from the Boys Town bridge on the M4 in two separate incidents.

Both escaped unharmed but Pillay’s windscreen was smashed. Paxton told the Courier that in his case, the perpetrators had been young boys aged between 10 and 12.

On the N2 on Saturday afternoon, Salt Rock mother of two Sam Millar just managed to avoid hitting a rock that was thrown in front of her car from the centre median just before the Salt Rock onramp.

The community is calling on SANRAL to take firm action against this murderous epidemic.

“This is getting out of control. These monsters are basically destroying our country. We now drive in fear,” said Shaldon Mothilal.

Joshua Williams, who had a maintenance contract with SANRAL for about 14 years, told the Courier that in his opinion and based on the knowledge of how the agency worked, SANRAL should be held responsible for any damage sustained on the N2.

“The agency spent money naming these bridges so that motorists could easily identify the areas. SANRAL put certain measures in place to avoid such cases, one of them was that they marked the bridges and the chiefs in that area were told that they would be held responsible for how their people behaved and to ensure that there is no criminal activity on that road. If memory serves me right, the chiefs were being paid. If my company were cutting grass on the side of the road and a rock flew onto someone’s car, the motorists would mark the area and then submit a claim form to SANRAL and they would pay.”

Also read: Rock throwing – Bridges to be enclosed?

Williams said people needed to ask themselves what they are paying for.

“We pay to use a road that is safe and in good condition, not to have our cars stoned and to drive in fear. It should not matter who is responsible for the activity itself, the fact of the matter is that it is happening on national roads and the road agency should not pick and choose what they can be held liable for.”

However, SANRAL Eastern Region design and construction manager Ravi Ronny said the agency paid claims for damages such as potholes and not rock throwing.

“On any road under the jurisdiction of SANRAL there is insurance for damages caused, owing to the physical condition of the road surface, such as from potholes. Insurance is taken out by SANRAL’s contractors to cover for such damage if such is proven. A third-party claim may be instituted in such instances. SANRAL, however, cannot control criminal activity on national roads that result in damage to vehicles, such as stone-throwing. Damage to vehicles, in such instances, is not as a result of the condition of the road. SANRAL, therefore, cannot cover such costs.”

A meeting to between SANRAL, KZN transport MEC Mxolisi Kaunda, Ethekweni Municipality and other roleplayers that was set to take place last week was cancelled because the MEC was not available.

It has not yet been rescheduled.

In the meantime, Umhlali captain Vinny Pillay said Tongaat and Umhlali SAPS havebeen working hard to patrol hot spots and investigate any suspicious activity.

Last week, six children were taken in for questioning regarding the incident in which the two siblings were killed. The children were later released.

Tongaat SAPS also arrested a man in La Mercy last week for allegedly throwing a bottle at car on South Beach Road.

Tongaat Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) recently trimmed the bush next to the Boys Town bridge to prevent criminals from hiding there.

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