Community bid to fight crime by erecting boom gates falls foul of council
SOME La Mercy residents are upset with an objection raised by an ethekwini Municipality roads department official about their installation of boom gates at the main entrance to the neighbourhood in order to curb escalating crime.
Neighbourhood safety and security head Sandheel Maharaj said La Mercy residents wanted a boom-gate control point to monitor road traffic.
Maharaj said a city official approached the contractor on the day the booms were being installed and said they should be removed.
The installation has been completed but the booms are yet to become operational.
“Our community was upset with the action of the city official and we voiced our disapproval with protest action,” Maharaj said. “The ratepayers and civic association have engaged with the mayor’s office about the issue.
“Our biggest concern is that there are no dedicated police vehicles to adequately service the coastal sector. This applies to SAPS Tongaat as well as metro police.
“Recently we had an armed robbery on Eden Rose Walk in La Mercy, where a 9-yearold child was shot in the abdomen. La Mercy has been a constant target for house robberies.”
He said residents were disappointed with the official’s actions because they were confident the boom gate would yield positive results.
“Three years ago, the community resorted to placing cones at the entrance and this resulted in the drastic reduction of crime. In some months, no crime was reported.
“In order to improve security, especially after the recent shooting incident, a resolution was taken to install a boom.
“We don’t intend to restrict access to the area, but rather opt to exercise vigilance. The SAPS has openly invited any legal measures to combat crime,” Maharaj said.
Ward councillor Geoffrey Pullan said he was not aware of the official’s objections, but the closure of a public road was not allowed.
Pullan advised that if residents wished to monitor traffic in the area they should place road cones at the entrance and ensure a security guard was posted there.
ethekwini Municipality spokesperson Tozi Mthethwa said the Road Traffic Act applied in this regard and no person was allowed to place an obstruction within the road reserve.
She said the municipality was not aware of the boom gate at La Mercy.
“The city would not permit such an obstruction. We are not aware who erected it nor was the city consulted in this matter. We have in the past received complaints regarding other boom gates and have had them removed,” she said.
Mthethwa advised that communities should:
• Not support any installation that constituted a restriction to traffic flow.
• Not support any installation that would be seen as a restriction to the right of access on a public road.
• Not support any permanent structures or installations on the roadside or verge.
• Oppose any structure or installation that compromised road-user safety including pedestrian safety in any form.
If a formal complaint was lodged with the city’s ethekwini Transport Authority in respect of any such installation, the authority would investigate and take the necessary action, Mthethwa said.