Dangerous bend sparks community outcry for action

Residents of Albert Street in Weltevreden Park are calling for urgent action to address the ongoing traffic hazards on their road. Their concerns, centred around a treacherous bend near 67 Albert Street, have been highlighted repeatedly to authorities but remain unresolved, despite the installation of guard rails by the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA).

Jennifer Van der Westhuizen, a local resident, has been at the forefront of efforts to improve road safety. “This fight is about keeping my family and our community safe,” she said. “Children, joggers, cyclists, and pedestrians are all at risk because motorists don’t respect speed limits or consider the safety of others.”

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Albert Street has become a favoured shortcut for drivers seeking to avoid traffic on the nearby JG Strydom Road, particularly during peak hours and late at night. Van der Westhuizen claims this problem has worsened with the recent opening of a club at Palm Court Shopping Centre.

“Drivers use our street to bypass authorities, especially after drinking,” she explained. “Their reckless behaviour, including speeding and texting, has made this bend a hotspot for accidents.”

For residents living along this stretch, the danger feels unrelenting. In a recent incident on November 10 2024, a driver crashed through guard rails and into Van der Westhuizen’s wall before being stopped by a palm tree. This accident has forced her family to take drastic measures.

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“Our children can’t even play in the yard or swim anymore because we fear for their lives,” she said. “We’ve told them to stay indoors until the bend is properly secured.”

Pedestrians and other road users are equally vulnerable. “Elderly residents who walk with caregivers, schoolchildren, and people walking their dogs are all at risk,” she added.

Despite these challenges, the community has rallied together. Residents have signed a petition demanding action and have voiced their support for Van der Westhuizen’s recommendations, including installing speed bumps at key points on Albert Street.

“The response from our neighbours has been overwhelmingly positive,” Van der Westhuizen said. “Everyone understands the importance of creating a safer environment for all.”

Communication between Van der Westhuizen, the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), and other local stakeholders, including the Ward 89 councillor, has taken place via email. In a written response, Lawrence Maseko, Regional Operations Manager for the JRA, stated that speed bumps are not warranted on Albert Street due to the road’s gradient and sight distances.

“Our traffic engineering team has reviewed this and concluded that other measures, such as the existing guard rails, are more appropriate,” Maseko said in an email to Van der Westhuizen.

Van der Westhuizen has expressed frustration with this stance, arguing that the guard rails have proven ineffective in preventing accidents. “We need something that will force drivers to slow down before someone gets killed,” she insisted.

Efforts to obtain further clarification from the JRA have been supported by Ramdeck Centre management, who also reached out to the agency. The JRA acknowledged receiving their inquiry but were unable to provide a response by the time of publication.

While the JRA has invited residents to appeal their decision through the city’s formal process, Van der Westhuizen remains determined to push for change. “This issue has dragged on long enough,” she said. “We need action, not bureaucracy, to prevent further tragedies.”

For now, the residents of Albert Street continue their fight, hoping their voices will be heard before another accident occurs.

The Randburg Sun contacted JRA representatives and received confirmation that the enquiry was noted and forwarded to the relevant parties but they were unable to respond before the time of print, the paper will provide updates as more information becomes available.

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