The eThekwini Municipality is investigating the installation of safety barriers on some of its bridges in an urgent bid to stop the scourge of stones and bricks being thrown at vehicles from overhead bridges.

The decision comes after two children aged between 15 and 7 years were killed in a rock dropping incident on Tongaat Bridge. The children were travelling with their father who was allegedly passing under the bridge when a big stone was thrown on his car.

In response to the event Deputy Mayor Fawzia Peer has proposed that safety barriers and closed-circuit cameras be installed over bridges in hotspot areas.

Peer, who also chairs eThekwini Municipality’s Safety and Emergency Committee, says this proposal will be one of the urgent items on the committee’s agenda this year.

“We are investigating the possibility of installing safety barriers in the form of steel cages to prevent objects being thrown from overhead bridges. This cannot be done overnight as normal Council processes will have to take place and this will also depend on funding,” Peer explains.

Identifying hot spots

The investigation will include identifying the bridges where the safety barriers and cameras will be installed.

“We are very concerned about the increase in these incidents and wish to reassure the public that the Municipality is acting swiftly to find a lasting solution to this issue. We will be speaking to communities in areas where these incidents have occurred to work with the City and encourage them to report those that are responsible for these criminal acts,” adds Peer.

The municipality says a task team will be formed to oversee the implementation of all proposed interventions. This includes ensuring increased police visibility after conducting a risk assessment to identify hotspots.