Four-year-old Junior Myeni is recovering at home after being hit by a car on the dangerous P228 road near Hlanganani informal settlement.

The toddler from the Hlanganani informal settlement (formerly Taffeni) was walking to the shop with his sisters on the morning of July 16. He suffered a broken leg and had to be airlifted to hospital.

Local paramedics, residents and community leaders have since rallied around Junior and his family, not only to support his recovery but to push for urgent safety upgrades to the hazardous stretch of road.

Kelsey-Jae Meyrick, an advanced life support paramedic from IPSS Medical Rescue, was one of the first on scene and treated Junior.

“It is always sad to see a child hurt. I kept thinking about him and when councillor Privi Makhan reached out, I knew I had to help. I am so happy to hear he is now back home.”

Meyrick has volunteered to visit Junior every third day to clean and re-bandage his wounds, saving the family costly hospital trips.

“IPSS is generously donating the medical supplies, and I will also transport him for follow-up wound checks,” she said.

Ndumiso Ngcobo of Fuze Lifesavers was one of the first bystanders to assist, administering first aid before emergency services arrived. He later connected the family with DA Ward 20 councillor Bulelwa Mvulana.

“The P228 has long been a danger zone. After an oversight inspection, we arranged medical help for Junior three times a week with the help of councillor Privi,” said Mvulana.

She confirmed an oversight visit with the Department of Transport this week.

“We are pushing for urgent traffic calming measures. We cannot wait until another life is lost.”

The P228 stretch, between Salt Rock Road and the Tinley Manor link, is the same road where a fatal motorbike crash occurred in November last year.

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