Continuous accidents spark outrage

Albert Street remains a danger zone for residents, with three crashes occurring in the past two days – two of them happening within an hour of each other. Despite previous safety interventions, motorists continue to lose control at the sharp bend near number 67, prompting renewed calls for more decisive action.

Resident Jennifer van der Westhuizen is vocal about the issue and says she is deeply concerned about the ongoing incidents and the lack of urgency from certain government departments.

“I feel a deep unease and concern regarding the recent incidents. It is troubling that my previous emails to the Johannesburg Road Agency (JRA) do not seem to have been taken seriously. I feel overlooked and am frustrated,” she says.

She fears that continued inaction could have devastating consequences.

“I cannot help but worry about the possibility of serious injury or loss of life, particularly if this impacts one of our children. We must address these issues proactively and ensure that our voices are heard,” she adds.
While the JRA has implemented some safety measures, including guardrails, warning signs, and ongoing cat-eye installations, Van Der Westhuizen believes these efforts are not enough.

She has requested permission to place boulders on her pavement to protect her home, but her repeated emails – seven in total – have gone unanswered.

“This has become the norm with getting any joy out of the JRA,” she explains.

However, she commended the regional operations team from JRA for their commitment to addressing community concerns.

“They consistently delivered on their commitments, and I commend them for their outstanding efforts, particularly in working late hours to ensure tasks are completed. Their performance has been exemplary, and the communication from the entire team has been exceptional. I have been kept informed and engaged throughout the entire process,” she exclaims.

In contrast, she expressed frustration with the civil engineering team, particularly the JRA CEO Zweli Nyathi, whom she says has dismissed her concerns without offering solutions.

“The civil engineering team has been less responsive and has not provided any solutions regarding the issues at our corner. Nyathi has dismissed my enquiries, failing to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation. I continue to await a response from him or anyone else in civil engineering,” she concludes.

The Roodepoort Northsider reached out to JRA about Van der Westhuizen’s allegations about Nyathi’s lack of response to her complaints and requests. No feedback from JRA was available at the time of going to print, but once their comments are received they will be published.