Two Bits – 28 August 2015

The shocking accident that claimed the lives of 16 commuters at Shaka’s Head last Monday has devastated the community. All were employed in and around Ballito, their parents live here, their children go to local schools.

The taxi industry has arrogated to itself the right to transport commuters on our roads, intimidating, assaulting and even killing those who threaten its stranglehold on this lucrative market. Elements of this taxi industry brandish automatic weapons in full public view and shootouts at the Stanger taxi ranks are commonplace. A Zimbabwean pedestrian was shot and killed in the crossfire of a taxi shootout in Ballito last year.

Therefore it is the responsibility of those same taxi owners to take better care of our citizens, whose lives they carry in their vehicles every minute of every day. They must demand that their members drive roadworthy vehicles, that they do not overload, that they obey the rules of the road.

Many taxis pass without notice, but there are too many that drive without any regard to the rules of the road, or of other road users. Twenty people were crammed into that taxi last Monday. If that was the driver’s practice, then no wonder the brakes failed or the propshaft broke. New drivers need to be educated that machines will sometimes break, but machines pushed beyond what they were designed for will most definitely break!

I received more letters on the subject that I can fit on the Letters page, but if you will permit me I will attempt to pick out some of the main points.

B R Charsley writes: “It is high time that the police reined these drivers in, and forced them to ‘toe the line’. One has to sympathise with our poor commuters who risk their lives every time they enter a taxi.”

Kimber Gould of Salt Rock asks please, please can there be more policemen on duty, directing traffic and inspecting vehicles.

“We would like to appeal for a plan of action to be taken, firstly on the Shaka’s Rock road. Every morning and evening the Shaka’s Rock bridge area is a hazard – taxis dashing out from nowhere, U-turning at the on-ramp/off-ramp to collect clients, stopping in the middle of the road and even driving into oncoming traffic to collect clients. Construction workers being dropped off and collected on the off and on-ramps, blocking visibility for other motorists trying to get on and off the N2.

“Then there is the issue of pedestrians literally everywhere. Little children trying to get to school in the morning darting through the traffic. Pedestrians waiting on the barriers to catch taxi’s and walking across on- and off-ramps without ever looking for turning cars. There has been so many tragedies on this bridge and yesterday was by far the most horrific! Yesterday’s tragedy could have been avoided had there been stricter law enforcement.

“We would like to ask for more traffic police presence during peak hours, between 6.30-8am and 4-6pm. A designated traffic officer directing traffic during these hours, particularly at the off- and on-ramp north facing. A scholar patrol near the bridge to help get the children safely across the road. More speed trapping on a regular basis and regular checking of taxis.”

Ntokozoka Ka Makamu of Groutville said no family should be allowed to have a family member or breadwinner go to work and never come home.

“One doesn’t have words to describe the horrific pictures that were in the news of people who went to make an honest living, for their lives to end like this.

“We hear different reports: some are saying the vehicle was overloaded. Why was it allowed to overload? Where were the law enforcement agencies? If this was not the first accident on the same spot, why was something not done to prevent more accidents?

“I guess all these questions will not bring back our people. All that is left for us as citizens is to support the families in their time of sorrow and grief, by asking the good Lord to heal them and give them strength to face another day without their loved ones.”

Everton Mtshali of Groutville blames the contractor who put up the guard rails for not making them stronger and stopping the taxi from plunging down the embankment. But Everton, those rails aren’t designed to be withstand a head-on thump from an overloaded taxi travelling at high speed.

Rodney Mattheys of Zimbali asks why the authorities are so slow to take preventative action, when otften the warning signs are there for all to see.

“I witness many hundreds of citizens who, daily face imminent death as they walk north along the M4 from the Zimbali Northgate entrance towards Ashton school. These people are forced to walk in the road and in places, in the middle of the road ,as the road verges are overgrown with bushes and weeds making it impossible to walk within the demarcated yellow lines.

“Will it take more deaths before the authorities react and have these bushes and weeds trimmed back and make it safe for these hundreds of pedestrians to navigate this extremely dangerous stretch of road in safety?”

When Salt Rock resident Jessica Galloway heard of the accident, she started a small drive for food, clothing and essential times, just to help in some small way.

“I cannot begin to tell you how humbled I have been by the community’s response to this. I am completely overwhelmed and do not know even where to start saying thank you, and it just keeps coming. Through the Facebook page we started, Ballito Helping Hands, I have received countless messages of support and offerings of assistance.”

Because of potential problems with equal distribution of items collected, she has teamed up with the Chamber of Commerce, which also launched an appeal to local businesses to contribute in any way to a fund to help families of victims.

Tebogo Gumede of Tongaat writes that commuters should refuse to travel in an overloaded taxi.

“It better to be late for work than to ride in an overloaded, unroadworthy taxi. It better to lose money than risk people’s lives by speeding unnecessarily.”

He believes little will change unless commuters start insisting on their right to travel in the vehicle of their choice, and that they insist that drivers not overload. Secondly, taxi owners and drivers should be prepared to listen to and respect the wishes of their passengers.

“My request to Dolphin Coast Taxi Association is to display the transport charter in all member vehicles and display telephone numbers where complaints may be directed. Let us put safety first.”

I couldn’t have said it better.