Nearly a year after this initial reporting and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s commitment to interim safety measures, the situation in Kariega’s CBD has not only persisted but, by several accounts, deteriorated.
The promised temporary four-way stops that were supposed to mitigate risks whilst repairs were pending have largely failed to materialise.
Current assessments indicate that only three of the area’s 14 traffic lights are now operational, representing a significant decline from the already concerning situation reported previously.
Ward 48 Councillor Franay van de Linde, speaking to UD Express about the ongoing crisis, revealed that she had escalated the matter with the Standing Committee several times since the initial reporting.
“I did this especially after the request from the principal of Winterberg Primary School to convert the current traffic intersection into four-way stops whilst waiting for it to be fixed. It just falls on deaf ears,” she said.
The councillor’s frustration reflects growing community concerns, particularly following recent near-miss incidents that highlight the deteriorating safety situation.
“Just last week a pedestrian was in my office stating that he was nearly knocked down by a speeding car at the intersection of Durban and Baird Streets. This is becoming very serious and we are not far from a fatal accident waiting to happen,” Van de Linde said.
Her criticism extends to what she perceives as the municipality’s response to mounting safety concerns.
“The Municipality just doesn’t take these matters seriously. Even the Spokesperson of the Municipality said at the time [May 2025] that these intersections would be changed into four-way stops until the traffic lights could be fixed; however, this has not happened up to now.”
Van de Linde emphasised that the promised interim measures would help reduce speeding and control right of way for road users at these intersections.
“The Municipality needs to see the seriousness of this matter and treat it with urgency, before a fatal accident happens. Or are they waiting for this to happen first and then want to act? By then it is too late.”
The deteriorating situation has intensified questions around the Metro’s follow-through on earlier commitments, budget allocation priorities, and the effectiveness of its anti-vandalism strategy.
Despite the NMBM’s previous assurances about engaging law enforcement during peak hours and working with SAPS and traffic enforcement units, the persistent problems suggest these measures have had limited impact.
As the situation enters its second year without resolution, the ward councillor calls for immediate action before a fatal accident occurs.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipal spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya told UD Express in May 2025 that “This busy corridor [Durban Street], which includes five major intersections, has regrettably become a high-risk zone for both motorists and pedestrians due to ongoing infrastructure damage.”
When asked whether there was a budget allocated for fixing the traffic lights in the 2026/27 financial budget, he claimed that fixing road intersections is part of the maintenance budget within the Roads and Transport Directorate, but did not divulge how much it would cost to repair the traffic lights in the CBD area.
The Metro previously told UD Express that the cycle of vandalism is severely draining the municipality’s already stretched infrastructure repair and maintenance budget.
“A number of arrests have been made by both the Metro Police and Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Security Services where in some instances culprits are found with cables and materials removed from traffic lights,” he said.
Soyaya noted that the Metro works with other organisations: namely SANRAL and private businesses, “where in some instances we share resources within the security services and the introduction of solar-powered traffic lights.”
On the traffic lights being off for almost two years, the local school situated on the busy road suggested that the road be made into a four-way stop in the interim as vehicles often cross the intersection without stopping, posing a potential threat to the safety of learners.
To this, Soyaya claimed that the possibility of introducing four-way stops in some areas is still an idea on the table.
“More on this will be revealed once all the research and feasibility work has been completed,” he said.
After almost two years of non-functional traffic lights on Durban Road, Soyaya stated that “Traffic lights are being fixed, budget permitting and in areas where traffic lights do not work and there is high traffic congestion, we deploy traffic officers to control the traffic.”
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