Vendor sprays Secunda motorist in the face with unknow substance

Police warned motorists to keep windows closed and doors locked when approaching the traffic lights at Albany on the road between Secunda and Trichardt.

This warning came after a motorist was sprayed in the face with an unknown substance.

It happened when he was on his way from Trichardt at around 16:30 on Thursday, February 24.

The motorist, who wished to remain anonymous, said that he never drives with his windows open, except on this day.

A street vendor approached him and held bags of marula to his face.

The motorist told the vendor: “No, thank you,” and proceeded to look at the road in front of him.

“The lights turned green and as I pulled away, I felt this burning sensation on my face and in my eyes,” said the motorist.

He could smell a sharp odour.

He was forced to pull over just further up the road close to the Sasol Junction.

“My face and eyes were burning and the tears were running,” said the motorist.

The motorist used a face mask to try and dry up the tears and also used sunglasses to see if it would help while driving.

However, he had to once again pull over when he entered Secunda.

Finally making his way home, the motorist said he had tried everything to wash off his face, but the irritation and burning sensation remained.

Later that evening, he was rushed to Mediclinic Highveld because his right eye was swollen shut and the irritation was getting worse.

By this time, his other eye was also affected. The man was treated by doctors.

There were telltale signs of a water substance sprayed on the man’s glasses.

He knows what pepper spray smells like and the substance with which he had been sprayed, was not pepper spray. It had more of a chemical or alcohol base.

“This was one of the scariest moments in my life,” said the motorist.

Local police are aware of this matter and are monitoring the situation.

They said the municipal law enforcement needs to step in and enforce by-laws of such trading at traffic lights.

However, familiar vendors have been selling their goods at the said traffic lights and those at the intersection towards Ext 22 for many years.

New faces are daily harming the reputation of those who have been trading at these spots for years.

“Not all the vendors are here to make trouble.

“The regular guys who sell at these traffic lights are honest vendors who are making an honest day’s living without harm to any of us,” said a concerned resident.

The resident said that it is unfair to punish these vendors for something that outsiders do when they come into this area.

Donald Green, acting manager for GMM communications said: “The council is the sole approval authority for informal trading within the road reserve and public places in Govan Mbeki municipal jurisdiction.”

• Trading licenses are issued to qualifying vendors/persons.
• Licensed vendors are positioned/placed at appropriate demarcated areas for trading.
• Traffic lights (robots) are not such demarcated areas.
• Accordingly, street vendors are prohibited from trading outside the designated/ demarcated areas.
• Trading in the traffic lights violates the Road Traffic Act.
• The council would not issue or approve licenses that would result in the obstruction of traffic or in violation of the national legislation.
• In no way are vendors allowed to trade at traffic lights as that would violate the Road Traffic Act.
• It is understood that some licensed vendors return to trade adjacent to traffic lights when they can’t attract enough customers at their designated/ demarcated locations.
• Action has been taken against street vendors operating in traffic lights in the past, but they keep coming back.
• GMM law enforcement will continue to monitor all acts of illegal street vending.