Pandemonium: the only way to describe an ordinary day on JBM Hertzog Avenue.
Panorama Combined School principal, Themba Mthethwa, recently approached the Newcastle Advertiser with concerns regarding traffic congestion in front of the school.
Emphasising the importance of his pupils’ safety, he said the school addressed several letters to Newcastle Municipality, disclosing details of a potential solution to a pertinent issue.
With a paper trail dating back to January 28, 2013, Mr Mthethwa said officials had not acknowledged receipt of the letters to date.
Despite a traffic warden being deployed to regulate congestion, the school said it was not possible to police dozens of vehicles and pupils simultaneously.
In 2013, then Chief Traffic Officer, Harold Zungu visited the school, and promised Mr Mthethwa the matter would be addressed.
Mr Zungu subsequently addressed a memorandum to the Strategic Executive Director of Community Services. An excerpt from the letter read: “[During] my bilateral discussions with the school principal during our inspection in loco, we concurred about the remedial as detailed in the school letter. I thus seek your approval to engage other stakeholder departments within the municipality to assist with the relevant interventions.”
Documentation provided by the school indicates several letters were addressed to the office of the municipal manager, as well as the Chief Traffic Inspector, over a period of three years.
On October 12, 2015, the school made its final appeal, claiming the traffic gridlock had become ‘unbearable’. Mr Mthethwa said reckless drivers ignoring basic traffic rules in the area was posing a direct risk, and ultimately endangering the lives of his pupils.
During an interview with the Newcastle Advertiser on February 9, Mr Mthethwa confirmed he had received no formal response from ‘the powers that be’ as yet.
He explained many pupils from outlying areas like Madadeni, oSizweni and Dannhauser, commute to and from school every day. With limited parking space in front of the school itself, the street becomes crowded with taxis, buses and cars twice a day.
“Pupils fill every part of the road, making it very difficult for motorists to use the road,” said Mr Mthethwa. “There is no space for movement, which is a serious problem.”
With the situation unravelling before their very eyes, the school proposed the municipality level vacant land behind the school.
“The land is unused; it will never be used for any other purpose. The space is easily accessible, and will act as a drop-off zone for pupils using buses, taxis and private vehicles, minimising congestion.”
Under the assumption the municipality would get involved, the school erected a gate behind the school to access the vacant lot.
“We were nursing the hope the municipality would assist us. It cost us about R11 000 for installation, labour and materials,” he added.
Mr Mthethwa’s greatest fear was that one of his pupils would be killed by an irresponsible driver, and called for the municipality to take a more proactive approach.
“I’ve made all sorts of appeals, with no help. We have 1 100 pupils, so you can imagine what it looks like at the end of a school day,” he concluded.
A media enquiry regarding the matter was addressed to the municipal communications department, which ironically, received no response.
With a viable solution on the table, the only question left to ask is: “Why hasn’t the municipality taken action?”
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