ENRAGED Delft residents barricaded the busy Aberdare Road this week with burning tyres and stones, demanding that the City of Cape Town build speed humps and put up street lights after a fatal hit-and-run accident on Sunday evening.
The residents said two siblings between the ages of two and eight years were walking on the pavement when the incident happened. They both died on the scene.
During the protest motorists were forced to take alternative routes, while cars caught forcing their way through were attacked with stones.
The family of the deceased children refused to speak to Sowetan, saying they were still traumatised by the incident.
N2 Gateway resident Thozama Xabisa described the road as dangerous to children.
"This is not the first incident. About four children have died on this road in separate accidents since last year," she said.
"Had there been humps and lights on the road the children would still be alive ."
Vuyolwethu Mesuli said: "We won't stop until the city does what we want. We will protest every day and ensure that each day we damage and barricade the road.
"What you see is minor. There will be a big march [and we] will vandalise everything on the road, even cars, because they are the ones who hit our children.
"We will ensure that the provincial government does what we want," she shouted.
Nicolas Philander of Leiden said: "We want the councillor or mayor to come and tell us when they are going to build speed humps.
"The cars are running as if they are on a freeway. They don't stop."
ANC ward councillor Khayalethu Makeleni said he visited the families on Monday.
"I asked the residents to draw up a petition so that I can submit it in the sub-council meeting today (Tuesday), but they didn't do that. But I will raise it," he vowed.
He said the budget for 2012-13 has already been finalised.
"We have already identified streets that need to have traffic circles and speed humps and that area is [not on the list]," Makeleni said.
A woman who identified herself as Dolly from the city's media office referred all questions to the office of the MEC for human settlements.
MEC for human settlements Bonginkosi Madikizela's spokesman, Bruce Oom, said: "I think it's best to speak to the City of Cape Town about this, and not human settlements since the city is responsible for services and roads."
Protesters wreak havoc after a string of hit-and-run accidents
ENRAGED Delft residents barricaded the busy Aberdare Road this week with burning tyres and stones, demanding that the City of Cape Town build speed humps and put up street lights after a fatal hit-and-run accident on Sunday evening.
The residents said two siblings between the ages of two and eight years were walking on the pavement when the incident happened. They both died on the scene.
During the protest motorists were forced to take alternative routes, while cars caught forcing their way through were attacked with stones.
The family of the deceased children refused to speak to Sowetan, saying they were still traumatised by the incident.
N2 Gateway resident Thozama Xabisa described the road as dangerous to children.
"This is not the first incident. About four children have died on this road in separate accidents since last year," she said.
"Had there been humps and lights on the road the children would still be alive ."
Vuyolwethu Mesuli said: "We won't stop until the city does what we want. We will protest every day and ensure that each day we damage and barricade the road.
"What you see is minor. There will be a big march [and we] will vandalise everything on the road, even cars, because they are the ones who hit our children.
"We will ensure that the provincial government does what we want," she shouted.
Nicolas Philander of Leiden said: "We want the councillor or mayor to come and tell us when they are going to build speed humps.
"The cars are running as if they are on a freeway. They don't stop."
ANC ward councillor Khayalethu Makeleni said he visited the families on Monday.
"I asked the residents to draw up a petition so that I can submit it in the sub-council meeting today (Tuesday), but they didn't do that. But I will raise it," he vowed.
He said the budget for 2012-13 has already been finalised.
"We have already identified streets that need to have traffic circles and speed humps and that area is [not on the list]," Makeleni said.
A woman who identified herself as Dolly from the city's media office referred all questions to the office of the MEC for human settlements.
MEC for human settlements Bonginkosi Madikizela's spokesman, Bruce Oom, said: "I think it's best to speak to the City of Cape Town about this, and not human settlements since the city is responsible for services and roads."
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos