BELLVILLE
WINNER BEST
FREE NEWSPAPER IN SA
WORLDCLASS
HEARING for your family!
ear institute
TM
Bellville (021) 949 2900
Woensdag, 21 September 2016 | Tel: 021 910 6500 | epos: nuus@tygerburger.co.za
@TygerBurger
TygerBurger
Gentle giant mourned From left are Nadia van Antwerpen, Reinette Smit en Kyla van Antwerpen, three of the scores of Bellville mourners who attended the candle light memorial service for a wellknown and wellloved car guard in Boston and Oakdale, Paul Ngama. Around 200 people braved the cold and wet last Thursday to pay their last respects to Bellville’s “Gentle Giant”. Story on page 9. PHOTO: MICHELLE LINNERT
TRAFFIC TROUBLES: MOTORISTS URGED TO ADHERE TO THE RULES
Ire over interchange MICHELLE LINNERT @linnertmb
B
ellville’s public transport interchange is a known hotspot for traffic offences with taxis and cars alike running amok, especially during peak times. This is according to the City’s Safety and Security office, which has been inundated with numerous complaints from the public regarding the intersection at Bellrail and Robert Sobukwe roads. So says the City’s Mayco member for that portfolio, JP Smith. “The City of Cape Town’s Traffic Service has received numerous complaints about
traffic congestion and transgressions experienced during the morning and afternoon peak times,” he says. The most highlighted offences cited by Smith were drivers disobeying red traffic lights and driving in the face of oncoming traffic, as well as overloaded taxis and vehicles cutting others off when they change lanes. “The congestion ... is largely due to the fact that the interchange is not able to handle the sheer volume of traffic flowing through. This results in vehicles queueing to get into the taxi rank, as well as a back-up into the intersections leading into the taxi rank,” Smith says.
“We understand the frustration of motorists who are affected by this congestion and can assure the public that we are doing everything possible to mitigate the impact until a more long-term solution is in place.” Smith says his office is working on engineering solutions to address the problem, but it will take time to finalise these. “In the interim, Traffic Services has already met with the various taxi associations in a bid to help regulate the flow of traffic within the taxi rank.” Smith says between June and August this year, Traffic Services had issued 2620 fines at the interchange. “They also impounded 66 minibus taxis
for not having operating licences and a further 28 vehicles were suspended for not being roadworthy,” he states. “I appeal to the public to bear with us during this time and to assist Traffic Services and themselves by adhering to the rules of the road. While I empathise and acknowledge that the situation is frustrating, it does not justify breaking the rules as this simply exacerbates the situation.” Bronwen Dyke, spokesperson for Golden Arrow Bus Services (Gabs) who shares the interchange with rail and taxi commuters, said they had not experienced an increase in incidents at this junction in recent times. V To page 2.