Truck death in Clairwood
THE death of a 33-year-old mother, who was killed when she was hit by a truck in Clairwood last week, has sparked anew the South Durban anti-trucking fight.
At about 7.30am on Thursday, 31 October the woman was allegedly walking on the sidewalk when she was struck by a heavy articulated truck. According to information given to Brighton Beach SAP communications officer, Captain Louise Le Roux by the truck driver, he had turned into Sir Kurma Reddi Road and two cars travelling in the opposite lanes made way for him when he indicated he was turning. The 26-year-old truck driver said he checked his rear view mirrors and did not see any obstructions when making the turn.
According to him, further along Sir Kurma Reddi Road he was waved down by two motorists who told him he had knocked someone over. He turned the truck around and returned to the scene of the incident, to await the arrival of the police. Some residents, however allege they had to chase him down 500 metres away and force him to return to the scene after screams for him to stop were ignored.
“We have been fighting this atrocity for years now. The area is zoned residential and every trucking company operating in the area is illegal and should be brought to book,” said Mervyn Reddy, secretary of the Clairwood Ratepayers and Residents Association (CRRA).
The South Durban area has seen many truck protests in the last few years, the most recent on Friday, 27 September. Residents have been vocal in their anger over increased trucking and the number of related deaths. Plans to convert Clairwood Racecourse into a logistics hub have further increased tensions and the matter came to boiling point with this latest death.
“This is the 11th death of a resident by trucks in Clairwood over just a few years. It is not acceptable,” said Reddy.
A mass public meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, 6 November at the Merebank Community Centre to mobilise residents into action to force the Government to move goods from road to rail. “Our intention is to stop the further development of related trucking and logistic facilities in the area. One death is one too many and we are sick and tired of big corporations and the Government putting their profits before the health and well-being of the people,” said South Durban Environmental Alliance chairman, Desmond D’Sa.
Many believe this death and many like it could have been prevented if the municipality had acted against trucking earlier. “We now call on the Government to take immediate action or face the brunt of radical community uproar that is presently brewing in South Durban,” said Reddy.
The truck driver was arrested by Brighton Beach SAP and a case of culpable homicide has been registered and is being investigated.
– erinh@dbn.caxton.co.za
