UPDATE: Frustrating lack of bridge action

Frustration is mounting as the perceived lack of action on the incidents of rock throwing leads the North Coast community to wonder if authorities are taking the threat seriously enough.

Ethekwini DA ward councillor Geoff Pullan said ongoing meetings and discussions had yet to lead to any tangible action and that he despaired of steps being taken any time soon.

His comments were made after Metro and provincial transport officials, as well as security bodies, examined the bridges on the N2 and M4 last Monday where recent rock-throwing incidents have caused loss of life and injury to motorists.

“There is a lot of reporting on what happened and debate about what to do, but no real steps yet,” Pullan said of the meetings – but lack of action to stop further incidents.

He said an education drive needed to be launched to teach people in rural areas about road safety.

“We have been going into the settlements near the Boy’s Town bridge and talking to them.”

Pullan said in the meeting it appeared that law enforcement was narrowing down their suspect pool.

“The issue is it is not just happening here anymore, it is starting to spread.

“I don’t think the people behind this are locals living nearby the bridges, though I have been hearing some concerns that towing agencies may be behind these attacks.”

Also read: Who should pay for rock attacks?

However, Umhlali SAPS spokesperson Vinny Pillay said he believed it unlikely that towing companies could be behind the spate of attacks.

One good thing to come out of the meetings, according to Pullan, is the establishment of a hotline to report rock throwing incidents or suspicious activity.

Meanwhile, a joint operation to curb the recent spate of rock-throwing incidents in the Durban area is underway and officials are hopeful of more arrests.

Following the tragic deaths of siblings Amina Haffejee and her seven-year-old brother Abdur Rahim, at least six more incidents of rock-throwing have been reported on the North Coast. Four incidents happened on the N2 and two more were on the M4, under the Boy’s Town bridge.

In a multidisciplinary law enforcement meeting last week at the N2 bridge, the KZN MEC’s office, station commanders from Verulam, Phoenix, Tongaat and Durban North, as well as ward councillors, religious leaders and emergency services, met to discuss a way forward.

Tongaat Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) chairperson Nazir Sadak said officials handed pamphlets to motorists on the N2 in a bid to create awareness.

“Hundreds of pamphlets were handed put detailing what to do if a rock is thrown at your car as well as warnings about rock throwing. There was a prayer conducted at the bridge where the two siblings lost their loves and a small committee was also formed.”

Sadak said there would be a motorcade from Durban to the N2 bridge between Tongaat and Ballito this Saturday.

Umhlali SAPS Vinny Pillay said that although an arrest was made in Amanzimtoti last week, none have been made on the N2.

“Tongaat and Umhlali SAPS are working together to patrol hot spots like the N2 and M4.”

Meanwhile, the Automobile Association says authorities in areas where rock throwing has occurred have a duty to deploy extra personnel on bridges, and to follow up on all complaints received.

“The re-emergence of rock throwing is scary and despicable. Everything must be done to track down the culprits and, once in custody, they must not be spared the full extent of the law,” the AA said.

The hotline number is: 071 506 0788.

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