‘Stop damaging traffic signs in Bethal,’warns AfriForum

A project which began a little more than a year ago with new stop signs being erected, has brought much disappointment and concern after many of these new signs have already been vandalised.

This project was not funded by the municipality and was purely a community-funded and installation project.

Signboards have purposely been removed from their posts and in some instances, the poles have been deliberately bent back and forth until their breaking point.

Mr Hennie Bekker, who is the district coordinator for AfriForum on the Highveld, said it is disgusting that the culprits have no regard as to whose expense these signs are being replaced with, nor the safety of road users.

Mr Bekker said that in one week they had to replace two signboards.

Although a sign or two has been run over by intoxicated drivers, Mr Bekker believes school children are involved in the vandalising of these signs.

“We have a witness who saw children trying to break down a stop sign, but by the time he had reached them, the children ran away.

“A week later, just a block away, another sign was down. It is plain straight vandalism,” said Mr Bekker.

Since the project had begun, 30 stop signs have been fixed or replaced.

He said that parents need to engage with their children and teach them that damaging property that does not belong to them, is not right and that vandalism is a criminal offence.

“It is not GMM who is replacing these signs, it is us. We replace these signs at our own expense,” said Mr Bekker.

He said the biggest concern is that it is a dangerous situation for motorists and road users.

“It will create an accident at some point and someone is going to get hurt,” said Mr Bekker.

Mr Bekker said that cases have not yet been opened, however, if this matter continues and the culprits are caught, a case will be opened against them.

If you know of or see any vandalism done to these signs, contact Mr Bekker on 084 905 6415.