After five years of persistent advocacy, residents are finally seeing safety improvements at the notorious bend near number 67 Albert Street.

The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) installed two speed humps on Tuesday, 16 September. Road markings have been repainted, with only the new speed limit signs still to be put in place.

Jennifer van der Westhuizen, who campaigned tirelessly for these measures, described the moment as one of ‘personal vindication and relief’.

She said the process often felt like “shouting into the void”, but the completion of the speed humps shows that persistence can lead to change.

“The speed humps are the crucial first step we desperately needed,” Van der Westhuizen said. “They will physically force drivers to slow down on this dangerous corner. The reduced speed limit and new signage that the JRA is implementing are an incredibly welcome and complementary addition. While the humps were my primary focus, this full package shows a real commitment to safety. It feels less like a small step and more like a decisive solution to a problem that has plagued us for years.”

She acknowledged that years of delays and incidents, including vehicles losing control, crashing into her wall, and even hitting a pedestrian, were frightening, but she chose to focus on the outcome.

Also read: Albert Street residents demand road safety

“Those events tragically underscored the critical need for these measures and ultimately galvanised our community and, we believe, the JRA into decisive action. We are just thankful that no one was more seriously injured and that those events became the catalyst for this permanent solution,” she said.

She gave special recognition to two JRA officials, Khayalethu Gqibitole and Mwezi Ndwe, who supported her throughout the campaign.

“These two men have been a pillar of strength and hope. They stayed calm, they listened with empathy, and most importantly, they finally put into action what I had been trying to say for five years. They are true public servants dedicated to making our city a safer place,” she said.

For Van der Westhuizen, the benefits extend beyond road safety.

“For years, we lived with a low hum of anxiety. Letting children play outside required hyper-vigilance, and a loud noise would make us all jump. But that changes today. These new measures restore our peace of mind. We can now reclaim our street as a safe place to live, walk and play,” she said.

Also read: WATCH: Albert Street corner adds another notch to the accident belt

She remains hopeful that the JRA will complete the final steps, including the installation of speed limit signs, and said the experience shows the power of patience in standing up for community safety.

“Be persistent, be polite, be factual, and build a strong case. Our story is proof that it is possible to work with authorities to create a safer, better community for everyone,” she said.

While Van der Westhuizen emphasised her own efforts, she noted that broader community support was limited, with some residents even removing rumble strips and only complaining after interventions were completed.

The Roodepoort Northsider approached the JRA to ask what caused the delays to the project, but no comment had been received at the time of publication. It will be published once received.

With the speed humps in place and signage forthcoming, Albert Street residents can look forward to a safer environment, marking the end of long-standing concerns.