Durban - A gang of heavily-armed men wearing bullet-proof vests are adding to the chronic traffic congestion at the N2/uMhlanga roadworks, targeting a main thoroughfare for the residential estates in Mount Edgecombe.
Travelling in a minibus, the mystery band has in recent days scared off workers at a stop-go operation at the N2 underpass in Mount Edgecombe Drive, which leads to the golf estate’s Gate 6, and to neighbouring estates.
The disruption has sparked safety concerns for residents. And the flight of the stop-go attendants, who regulated a single-lane flow through the underpass that is being widened, has caused traffic chaos.
Mount Edgecombe resident, Isabelle Luker, on Tuesday described the situation as “a bit frightening”.
“There was no warning, it just happened,” she said. She said the disruption had forced her to use the crowded N2 highway.
According to newsletters sent to residents by the management of Mount Edgecombe Country Club Estate 2, “eight heavily armed men with bulletproof vests” had been patrolling near the underpass.
“Armed and dangerous groups (were) trying to exert pressure on local government through intimidation - for a number of reasons, both political and financial,” a newslettter read.
It said the groups were intent on shutting down the stop-go and this “poses a significant risk to motorists”.
Residents were advised to seek alternative routes as it “appears that the SAPS are unable to resolve the situation or provide security”.
Long queues form at the underpass, used by thousands of residents of residential estates in the area as well as motorists from Phoenix and elsewhere, avoiding the roadworks on the M41.
The crisis came to a head on Thursday when pointsmen, who had been controlling the stop-go, quit their posts in fear. On Friday, according to the newsletter, workers were persuaded, in the presence of police and the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral), to return.
“Later that morning, however, an unmarked minibus arrived at one of the bridge sites and eight heavily armed men with bulletproof vests chased the workers from the bridge site.”
All workers were then ordered off site by management.
Pointsmen were still absent on Tuesday and the entrance to Hambridge Avenue was closed to allow cars to exit Mount Edgecombe - this to improve safety in the guards’ absence. But several motorists defied the road signs and forced traffic to come to a halt as they passed through.
The Daily News visited the site on Tuesday and found frustrated motorists battling to negotiate the traffic well after the morning peak hour. Exiting and entering the golf estates from the underpass was difficult.
And according to residents, the problem continued on Tuesday night.
Metro police spokesman, Sibonelo Mchunu, said they were “aware there was some intimidation and threats to workers”. He said he did not know the cause of the dispute, but said police were “periodically” visiting the site and other road construction sites in the north of Durban to monitor the situation.
eThekwini Municipality’s spokesperson, Thulani Mbatha, on Wednesday morning said: “Metro Police have just become aware of the challenge that there are no contractors to operate the stop-and-go signals. Metro police regional commander is addressing the matter.”
Head of eThekwini Transport Authority, Thami Manyathi, on Wednesday morning said the mayor and senior councillors had, since Monday, been in meetings with stakeholders, including taxi operators, workers, Go!Durban representatives and subcontractors,
A resolution had not yet been reached and the meetings were expected to continue through the week. “Various issues are being discussed,” Manyathi said.
Initially estate management thought the intimidation was linked to a dispute between a local taxi association and the eThekwini Municipality over the introduction of the GO!Durban bus integrated rapid public transport network.
But management later said it may be a bid to put pressure on local government through intimidation.
Bafana Mhlongo, of the uMhlanga Taxi Association, denied his association’s members were involved.
The association apparently met the construction company responsible for work at the underpass and suggested they employ private security to protect their employees.
The underpass widening began in July and road signs warned motorists it would take 15 months.
“It is a key road project worth hundreds of millions of rand,” said eThekwini ward 35 councillor Heinz De Boer, whose ward comprises uMhlanga and Mount Edgecombe. He called on the police crime intelligence and other units to sort it out.
“One cannot negotiate with people who have armed themselves and threatened workers with firearms.
“I liaised with the various ministers during a high-level meeting in KwaMashu,” De Boer said.
Traffic congestion at Mount Edgecombe Drive under the N2 is reduced to
Daily News