Since November last year no less than three cars have crashed into his backyard, through the wall and almost into the pool.
Edwin Thomas who lives in Windsor Park says his family is living in constant fear of what he believes are drunk drivers.
According to Thomas, in all three cases the drivers had come down Dan King Street from the direction of the Kraaifontein sports facilities, the home of several sporting clubs.
His home is situated on a turn at a T-junction on this road.
During the most recent incident his wife was at home.
“By the time I got there the driver’s friends had already dragged him out of the car, and left the scene very quickly before the police could arrive. They left the car right there and took off with the driver,” he says.
“In all three cases it is evident that the drivers were speeding and not sober enough to slow down quick enough around the bend,” he says.
On the previous occasion Edwin was at the back of the house cleaning his swimming pool a mere metre away from the wall, where the car came crashing through, a short while later.
“We live in fear of our lives. We are literally too scared to go into the backyard or use our pool.”
Thomas made three criminal cases of malicious damage to property and reported it to the City requesting traffic service intervention.
“But the City has failed me in that they haven’t done anything to help us protect our lives. A speed bump is urgently needed at this intersection, yet I was told that I had to get petitions from my neighbours to motivate the intervention. This point in the road has always been a problem with the first incident dating back to 2003. I registered C3 notifications and sent letters to the ward councillor and the mayor. What more must I do? Our lives are in danger.”
In the letter he sent to his ward councillor Rhynhard Bresler and Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, he writes: “I am appealing to you not only as a member of your constituency but as a father who is concerned about the safety of his family. I am ashamed to say the City of Cape Town which I am so proud to serve has failed me.”
The way forward
In response to Thomas’ plea the City’s transport planning and network development team confirmed that they have received both the signage and traffic calming requests and will action a full investigation into both issues in the next financial year, starting 1 July.
“We note the request and agree that the site in question would certainly benefit from a T-junction chevron sign. There may be other improvements to the intersection signage that can be made such as warning signs and curve chevrons. The City will arrange for the implementation of relevant signage in the new financial year and will also provide a direct response regarding the outcome of the traffic calming investigation,” a City spokesperson said.
Residents should please note that they can submit requests for new signage, and/or those in need of replacement or maintenance to the Transport Information Centre at 0800 65 64 63 (free call 24/7) transport.info@capetown.gov.za where a tracking reference number will be provided, and the request will be redirected to the appropriate department for action.
