Garsfontein Road development remains under spotlight as car hit and kill boy (6)
A need for development and implementation of traffic calming mechanisms in Garsfontein Road in the spotlight following the death of a six-year-old after being struck by a car.
Seeing the body of a six-year-old in a body bag after being hit by a car remains a tragic scene for residents of Mooikloof Ridge, who saw and heard of the fatal accident that happened about two weeks ago.
“My heart was so heavy that day,” said resident Yolanda Mgiba, who said she drove past the fatal accident scene after the boy was struck by a light motor vehicle at the corner of Garsfontein and Jollify roads at around 13:50 near Mooikloof Ridge shops, on Thursday, March 24.
According to police reports, the boy was hit by a car when he and another child were crossing the road that was open for vehicles to pass.
“I was coming from work and we were stuck in traffic. When seeing the body in the bag, my heart just bled because I thought of the family of that person who would not make it back home that day,” Mgiba said.
She said she initially thought she thought the person that passed away was an adult.
“The pain felt worse when I heard it was a child that was visiting and did not even stay here [Mooikloof Ridge]. It was heartbreaking seeing the body of a child in a body bag.”
While the death of the child was not pinned on the conditions of the road, the Mooikloof Ridge resident said generally the residents faced car speeding challenges on the Garsfontein Road with a lack of traffic calming mechanisms for the pedestrians who stay nearby and use the road.
“The traffic on that road [Garsfontein] is very heavy and road infrastructure is very poor. For instance, to get to Brooklyn from Mooikloof it takes you an hour, which is ridiculous.”
She said cars travelling from the Jollify Road to Garsfontein Road most of the time were speeding. “They [cars] are in a hurry to join the Garsfontein Road and cannot wait for pedestrians to cross, and the pedestrians have to cross as well.”
The mother of two said following this accident she feared sending her children to shops as they would also have to use the same roads.
“I have a 12-year-old and a 14-year-old, I usually send them to the shops but after that accident I am scared. I do not know if I will be able to send them again.”
Mgiba said further development was needed for the Garsfontein Road and implementation of a speed bump on the crossing between Jollify and Garsfontein roads.
Ward 91 councillor, Henning Viljoen said the issue of development of the Garsfontein Road has been a challenge for years and was unfortunately becoming a bigger problem due to the rapid urban development expansions further in a south-easterly direction.
He said the Tshwane metro was in continuous liaison with the Gauteng province to plead for the upgrading of the Garsfontein Road.
“One should assume that one of the main issues, which is speeding, could be curbed by traffic calming mechanisms or calming zones like speed bumps. This is a priority from my side to promote as a matter of utmost urgency to the relevant authorities responsible for the maintenance of the road.”
He said high traffic volumes and the limited width of the road was an issue.
“The widening of the road is unfortunately a longer term project and is part of the larger development plan for the region. The issue of potholes is also continuously brought under the attention of the province.”
Viljoen described the accident as “absolutely tragic”.
“As the councillor of the ward in which this incident took place it is heartbreaking and shocking and the city of Tshwane’s heartfelt sympathy remains with the family and friends.”
Boschkop police spokesperson Sergeant Yeroboam Mbatsane said although the driver of the vehicle that hit the child was not facing any charges, a case of culpable homicide was opened to probe the death of the child.
According to the Gauteng Department of Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure, its traffic engineering team was looking at various road calming and control measures for the provincial road.
“A detailed report on interventions and implementation plans will be presented by Friday, April 22,” the department said.
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