Concerns about learner safety, e-hailing pickups and traffic management at Trinityhouse Little Falls have prompted calls for better coordination between the school and its neighbours, as an additional Grade Eight class and Grade Nine class are planned for 2027.

Little Falls resident Mark van der Walt said residents want clearer arrangements for learner collection, better communication about school activities and action on issues affecting nearby homes.

He also complained about the traffic during morning drop-off and afternoon pickup times, citing that parents speed down the road and others let their children jump out of moving vehicles, putting them at risk.

Learners use residential addresses for e-hailing

Van der Walt alleges that some learners use residential addresses as pickup points on e-hailing applications, resulting in drivers waiting near or inside neighbouring driveways. “Why not request rides from inside the school? Then the Ubers can go in,” he said.

According to him, residents sometimes approached drivers to establish whom they were collecting. He also alleged that some learners throw their sports kits over a gate and climb over it after sporting activities rather than use a designated exit, adding that residents’ primary concern is child safety.

He said residents wanted the school to improve collection arrangements and ensure learners used appropriate exits. He also raised concerns over a new small gate installed at the school, questioning whether it was approved according to the development plan, and noted that event parking blocks residential driveways.

In a written response, Trinityhouse brand marketing and sales manager Marthie van der Wat said high school pupils could use e-hailing services only with written parental permission and were required to use the school’s designated collection point.

“While the school promotes responsible transport arrangements and student safety, parents remain responsible for selecting, authorising, and monitoring their children’s transport providers once students have left the school premises,” she said.

The school said its traffic-management measures included designated drop-off and collection areas, controlled access points and security personnel to assist with traffic flow. Parents had also been reminded to obey traffic regulations and avoid obstructing neighbouring properties.

JMPD finds no traffic violations during inspection

JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla said a search of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) central complaints database showed no formal complaints or service requests relating to the school in the preceding four years.

Following a media enquiry, officers assessed traffic and parking around the school on Tuesday, September 22, and engaged with school management. “No fines or impoundments were necessary, as no road traffic violations or illegal obstructions were observed during the site monitoring,” Fihla said.

He said e-hailing vehicles were not automatically prohibited from collecting passengers on public roads, but could not block active lanes, park illegally or obstruct driveways.

Residents experiencing illegal parking or blocked access can contact JMPD’s Emergency Communications Centre on 011 375 5911.

The City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (CoJEMS) also inspected the school on Tuesday, September 22. Media officer Xolile Khumalo said the premises complied with relevant emergency-services requirements, with unobstructed escape routes and adequate emergency-vehicle access. “All three gates provide sufficient clearance for emergency vehicles,” Khumalo said.

According to Khumalo, the inspections addressed traffic observed during JMPD’s visit and emergency access. They did not establish whether every concern raised by residents had been resolved.

Recurring alarm disturbs sleep

Van der Walt said a recurring alarm at the school had disturbed his sleep for about two years. He described what he believes are two separate issues: a recurring school alarm and a lightning-warning system introduced more recently. “At 03:00 that thing goes off, I don’t sleep again,” he said.

He alleged that the recurring alarm could sound two or three times a week. Van der Wat said equipment linked to previous false alarm activations had been replaced. “There have been no false alarm activations in the last three months,” she said.

She said the lightning-warning system remained an important safety measure for pupils, staff and visitors and did not activate after 21:00. She added that the school also undertook to switch off the alarm during periods of inactivity, including school holidays, provided no activities such as sports clinics were taking place.

However, the school’s response does not clearly establish whether the replaced equipment relates to the recurring alarm van der Walt describes or the separate lightning-warning system.

Van der Walt said the alarm goes off even during school holidays at various times and days. He said residents were not opposed to school activities but wanted to be informed about events that could affect them. “We’re okay if we have noise,” he said. “We don’t mind the children. Just let us know.”

The school said its calendar had been provided to van der Walt and a representative of the Little Falls and Strubens Valley Residential Community Association to inform them of activities that could affect neighbours.

No extra construction for 2027 classes

Trinityhouse confirmed that an additional Grade Eight class and Grade Nine class would be introduced in 2027, with a maximum of 26 learners in each. The school said the additional classes were covered by the original building plans approved in 2011 and that no construction was required to accommodate them.

It added that any future facilities not covered by the original approval would undergo the required planning, traffic and municipal approval processes before construction.

The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) was asked about traffic management, signage, pedestrian safety and the potential impact of the additional classes. JRA media officer Kelebogile Mafa confirmed receipt of the inquiry and said that the agency would follow up with its engineering department and provide detailed feedback once it has been received.

Trinityhouse said it valued its relationship with the surrounding community and remained committed to managing its campus responsibly and engaging constructively with residents.