AT a recent SAPS community imbizo, uMhlanga residents raised issues around taxis and busses blocking traffic, reckless driving and illegal u-turns, especially on Ncondo Place.

Residents said that drivers are using Ncondo Place as a thoroughfare to beat traffic going to and leaving uMhlanga village and going towards it and are causing a peril on the roads with the u-turns, which place other motorists at risk.

Northglen News recently spoke to Ward 35 committee member Sagren Pillay and Rahul Ramsunder who urged Metro Police to intervene.

Pillay, whose portfolio is safety and security, and Ramsunder, whose portfolio is roads, transport and stormwater, said there have been a number of accidents at Ncondo Place due to motorists breaking the law.

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“There are signs saying you can only turn left going towards Gateway, however, despite this, motorists are still making illegal turns there, putting others at risk. The municipality tried putting in raised concrete pavers as a way to stop motorists from turning illegally but that has become a hazard in itself because drivers have either struck the paving or broken the concrete,” Pillay said.

“Unfortunately due to traffic congestion at the Herrwood Drive traffic circle and McDonalds circle has meant residents also use Ncondo Place as a way to try and beat traffic and make those turns. I have engaged with the Durban Metro Police Service about using white shirt officers at the traffic circles to help ease congestion as often times the circles become gridlocked.”

Ramsunder echoed those sentiments.

“When there was a Metro Police vehicle at Ncondo Place we saw no incidents take place, everybody follows the rules. The minute they leave chaos ensues. We don’t expect a vehicle to be parked there 24/7, however, some enforcement is needed. We are also suggesting the eThekwini Traffic Authority (ETA) look at an engineering solution that could help solve the problem. As Sagren has said, motorists continue to make illegal u-turns, either to beat traffic, which poses a risk to residents and other motorists,” he said.

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