Illegal parking and roadworks cause chaos on Rivonia Road
Morning and evening traffic has become a nightmare for workers at Sandton City with illegal parking and ongoing roadworks on Rivonia Road turning a daily commute into a safety hazard.
Commuters entering and exiting Sandton City via Rivonia Road are facing escalating frustrations as roadworks and illegal parking create dangerous traffic congestion during peak hours.
Theresa de Wilzin, who works at Dewey Mclean Levy Inc Attorneys in Sandton City Office Towers, describes the situation as a ticking time bomb. “In the mornings, when I turn left from Sandton Drive into Rivonia Road, there are only two lanes available. People stop at that corner to drop off and pick up Gautrain passengers, and I’ve even seen a driver in a white Mercedes taxi park there and sleep while waiting.”
Read more: Gautrain and Rea Vaya team up to fight Joburg’s traffic nightmare
According to De Wilzin, once the left lane fills with stationary vehicles, taxis and private cars often stop in the right lane as well, leaving no space for through traffic. “When both lanes are blocked, traffic simply grinds to a halt. It’s already extremely busy around 07:00, and I don’t even want to imagine what it looks like closer to 08:00. This is a ticking time bomb.”
Also read: Improved traffic jams in Sandton Central
De Wilzin also highlighted the afternoon congestion, explaining that office workers often cannot access the right lane, forcing them to squeeze into the left lane, hoping drivers will make way. “After a long day’s work, everyone just wants to get home, but this has turned into a total disaster.”
Responding to the commuters concerns, Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) spokesperson Xolani Fihla confirmed that authorities are aware of the issue and are taking measures to improve traffic flow. “In the interim, we have deployed a vehicle to monitor the affected area and placed a points person at the intersection of Pybus and Rivonia roads to help direct traffic. We are also monitoring the Gautrain drop-off area to prevent vehicles from blocking lanes.”
Fihla added that penalties for illegal parking, under the National Road Traffic Act and municipal by-laws, could range from fines to immediate vehicle removal. “We are also working on long-term solutions in co-ordination with the City of Johannesburg transport department and Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA). A formal meeting is scheduled next week to address these concerns and find solutions for commuters and transport operators alike.”
The Sandton Chronicle reached out to JRA for a comment on January 16. Updates will be provided once they become available.
Follow us on our WhatsApp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
