Dangerous road dip might be the cause of repeated accidents on N12

Residents of Reyno Ridge, Extension 5, are frequently involved in accidents, with a rainwater-filled dip allegedly causing drivers to lose control and crash into walls.

February 1, 2024

Simangele Khoza 2 minutes read

Residents of Reyno Ridge Extension 5 face regular accidents as rainwater-filled dips cause drivers to lose control and crash into walls.

Residents of Harlekyn Street, Reyno Ridge Extension 5, are living in fear as a persistent road issue on the N12 continues to pose a serious threat to both property and lives.

It seems the problem arises when rainwater accumulates in a dip on the road surface, leading drivers to lose control and crash into adjacent properties.

Ms Carla Holtzhausen said, “This is a tragedy waiting to happen. In the last two years, six cars have gone off the road and crashed into our back wall. Water on the road plus speeding appears to be a cause for disaster.”

Despite efforts to address the issue, including contacting the two road agencies, residents are still awaiting a resolution.

Holtzhausen added, “Sanral seems to be the responsible party, and my neighbour is awaiting a call from them, as they also had cars plunging through their back wall. We are left waiting and hoping for a solution.”

The situation becomes particularly perilous during rainy weather, and the resident expressed frustration, saying, “Police and traffic authorities seem indifferent, showing up briefly and then driving away. People often get hurt, but they get removed by their friends, and the explanation is that they’ve been taken to the hospital.“We filed a complaint with Sanral, and they got it, but I’m still waiting for a response,” Ms Maria Fourie, the neighbour confirmed. It’s a cycle of danger, damage, and frustration.”

The repeated accidents have taken a toll on residents, who face penalties from their insurance companies for frequent claims. The lengthy wait for repairs exposes them to further risks.

As Holtzhausen shared, “We get penalised by our insurance for claiming so much for the same thing, and for weeks, we must wait for it to be fixed while we get burgled in the meantime. At one stage we had to hire security, which is not cheap, to stand watch at the gap in the wall.”

WITBANK NEWS reached out to Sanral and spoke to Mr Thabo Gwebu who said they had received an email about the issue and that it had been submitted to the right authorities for swift action. He could, however, not confirm a specific time in which the issue will be addressed.

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