Campus management, JMPD, and ward councillor provide feedback on Emeris parking disaster

Following mounting complaints from residents and students’ parents about severe congestion around the newly opened Emeris campus in Sandown, campus management, Ward 91 councillor Andrew Stewart, and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) have responded, outlining steps being taken to address the situation.

Residents recently raised concerns with Sandton Chronicle about gridlocked traffic along Grayston Drive, Rivonia Road, Katherine Street, and Webber Road, saying the surrounding infrastructure has been overwhelmed since the campus opened earlier this year.

Head of communications at Emeris Sarnelia Mandapali said they acknowledge the frustration since the opening of the Emeris campus in February. “We understand the impact of the increased traffic congestion on daily routines, and we want to assure the community that we are taking these concerns seriously. As a new campus, of approximately 5 000 students, the start of the academic year has naturally brought on a significant increase in movement in the area.

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“We are aware that this has created pressure on surrounding roads and are actively implementing measures to alleviate congestion while discussing longer-term plans.”

Mandapali confirmed that Emeris followed all required legal and regulatory processes prior to construction. These included the necessary land use, zoning, and building plan approvals from the relevant authorities. “In addition, a professional traffic impact assessment was commissioned and submitted as part of the approval process. The findings of this assessment informed us of the design, access points, and traffic management arrangements.

“All access and parking provisions were reviewed and approved by the appropriate municipal departments and the campus operates in accordance with these approved conditions.”

She said several measures have already been introduced to ease congestion:

• Ongoing engagement with the ward councillor and JMPD to co-ordinate traffic management interventions and address congestion hotspots.
• Direct outreach to residents in the surrounding area to listen to concerns and maintain open communication.
• Additional off-site parking secured at Benmore Shopping Centre, the former Benmore Gardens campus, and the Virgin Active on Grayston Drive.
• Shuttle services operating throughout the day between these off-site parking locations and the campus.
• Restricted on-campus parking, available only to second, third, fourth-year, and postgraduate students with valid permits.
• Real-time student notifications via WhatsApp when on-campus parking reaches capacity, with immediate redirection to alternative parking facilities.
• Increased security at the campus entrance to assist with traffic flow and support safer movement in and out of the campus.
• Close collaboration with JMPD to address illegal parking in surrounding streets.

“We are confident that traffic conditions will improve as students settle into their routines and make use of the alternative parking and shuttle services now in place.”
Councillor: “More could have been done.”

Stewart confirmed that he had previously submitted written questions to the MMC for development planning regarding approvals of the campus. “They confirmed that building plans for Emeris were approved and a parking/traffic assessment was done. I have followed up with the MMC to get further details of the traffic plan.”

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He added that he has been engaging with the campus management, and was assured that they are working with JMPD to discipline students who are not honouring their parking rules. “However, I do think that more could have been done to ensure that there was not anarchy around the campus. Hopefully, JMPD will have a presence on Webber Road, to ease traffic congestion.”

JMPD confirms fines and investigations

JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla said that prior to the recent enquiry from the publication, Region E had not formally received complaints specifically relating to the campus’ impact on the identified intersections. However, upon receiving these details, the department took immediate action.

Officers were deployed to the intersection of Grayston Drive and Webber Road on February 25. “Several vehicles obstructing traffic and pavements were identified and removed from the site.”

The remaining non-compliant vehicles were issued with Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act, 1998, 31 infringement notices, specifically for disobeying a road traffic sign or parking in a prohibited area.

He added that the department has opened a formal investigation into the points raised, including fines issued over the last six months, traffic flow assessments, and pedestrian safety. “JMPD will engage with the city’s transport department and campus management to review the adequacy of internal parking versus student capacity.”

Fihla said plans are being reviewed to increase the presence of officers during the identified extended peak hours to prevent gridlock before it begins.

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