BRACKENFELL
B u r g e r E-pos: tyger@dieburger.com
Woensdag 11 April 2012
Tel: 021 910 6500
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Carlisle gets the ‘real’ story Transport and public works minister of the Western Cape, Robin Carlisle, took the train last week and personally spoke to commuters about their train fares. Full story on page 3.
) Request for speed camera turned down
Still speeding ahead DESIREÉ RORKE
Despite a desperate outcry by residents, the City of Cape Town recently decided that they will not be erecting a permanent speed camera on Okavango Road, between the N1 and Frans Conradie Drive. This, despite the admission by safety and security portfolio committee chairperson, Councillor Carin Brynard that this road “is used as
a racetrack and needs intensive monitoring.” Application for traffic cameras was made in August last year by Maritz van Jaarsveld, who lives in close proximity to the road, while ongoing concerns were raised about this road. According to Van Jaarsveld, motorists and motorcyclists on a daily basis exceed the formal 60km/h speed limit on the 1km stretch of road. “The contempt for traffic rules on
this road is indescribable, and so is the noise which results from the excessive speeding,” he said in a formal complaint to the Bergdal Subcouncil. In a subsequent email to city officials, Brynard, who is also the ward councillor in this area, requested traffic cameras for this area. According to Van Jaarsveld, temporary speed traps on the road is not effective as traffic personnel is visible from any approach to this road.
In a more recent request, another resident, Freddy Erasmus shares Van Jaarsveld’s sentiment and stated in a separate complaint to the subcouncil: “It is shocking how motorists speed over this intersection (Frans Conradie and Okavango). There has to be a way to stop this…What I ask is that a permanent traffic camera be erected here.” After the initial complaint, speed evaluations were conducted in Okavango Road by the city, to be evalua-
ted by the camera review committee. The evaluation meeting was held on 19 December, where the speed survey and accident stats were evaluated. But according to city official Paul Smith, conditions did not meet the criteria for the erection of a permanent speed camera, and the decision was duly communicated to the public in mid March. He did not, however elaborate on the criteria. . To page 3.