New school entrance causes uproar in Sunward Park
Residents of Totley Street and Sunward Park High School, it seems, no longer see eye to eye after the school's decision to open a new entrance.
Previously, the school’s entrance was situated in Sonskyn Road, but they have now erected a waiting area for learners within the school yard, with its entrance/exit on Totley Road.
Angry residents of this street said they were never consulted by the school in a move that they deem will potentially lower the value of their properties.
“Our rights as law abiding citizens of Ekurhuleni are being trampled upon; the way in which the school has gone about forcing this situation upon us is not only illegal, but also downright disrespectful,” said resident Kirsten Potgieter.
He said it’s clear that the school is acting illegally and that the council is standing idly by, while the residents have tried in vain to get answers, which are not forthcoming, not even from the metro or Ward 34 councillor, Bruce Reid.
Potgieter added that they have to deal with traffic chaos in the street once the school comes out for the day.
“Children are walking in the street, while buses and other vehicles of parents picking up their children block our driveways,” he said.
”We even have vendors selling their products under the trees in front of our houses.”
He added that children also run the risk of being run over in the street, as there are no pedestrian crossing signs whatsoever.
“Both the residents and the children using the unsafe road are the victims of this traffic conundrum,” he said.
“Add the additional pedestrian traffic, without the necessary infrastructure, and we have a ticking time bomb on our hands.”
Potgieter called the school’s decision ”ridiculous” and asked why they would choose the quiet little Totley Road, when ample parking exists in Sonskyn Road, a main artery into the suburb, which was clearly designed to accommodate heavy traffic.
“It seems to us that the school did not plan properly and engaged in wasteful expenditure,” he added.
Residents want to restore law and order in the street and Potgieter did not rule out the possibility of taking legal action against the school and the metro.
The Advertiser contacted Ward 34 Clr Bruce Reid, various departments within the Ekurhuleni Metro and the Gauteng Department of Education, to get clarity on the matter.
Reid shot down accusations that he is siding with the school.
“I’m not representing the school, but the community surrounding the school,” he said.
“It was brought to my attention that the school was going to be building a waiting area and I was aware that while construction was ongoing it caused traffic congestion.
“However, since the facility has been completed, the traffic is flowing much better in Totley Street.”
Reid insists the school hasn’t conducted a public participation process and hasn’t submitted the traffic impact studies to the Metro Roads Department.
“I have approached the roads department to find out what process is to be followed and they said a traffic impact study is needed before this matter can be finalised and approved,” he said.
“To the best of my knowledge, the school is busy with the process and it will be presented for public participation, so that all residents can have a say.
“I don’t think it’s right for the buses to be allowed on this road – somehow the school might need to come up with a different plan of exiting the pupils to relieve the street of the traffic.”
Reid said the new entrance/exit could have been prompted by the fact that the school grew from 1 000 learners to 1 400, and the original exit facility was not adequate to handle all the traffic.
The Gauteng Department of Education, however, tells a different story.
According to spokesperson Phumla Sekhonyane, the department has proof of public participation by the school and consultation that took place with all relevant stakeholders, including the municipality, as far back as 2010.
“All the parties involved in the discussion reached consensus and no sign of disapproval was detected at any stage,” said Sekhonyane.
“The school is, however, still awaiting the construction of the pedestrian crossing by the municipality, as it falls within their jurisdiction.”
Sekhonyane said the traffic jams in the mornings and afternoons are caused by parents dropping off and picking up their children, which is understandable.
“The vendors are no longer selling outside the school premises as was the case before,” she added.
“Since the erection of the waiting area the vendors now sell within the school premises and, after business, they pick up their litter and clean the area.”
EMPD chief superintendent, Wilfred Kgasago, said the case will be investigated on all the matters germane to law enforcement.
“Representatives of the aggrieved residents should discuss the matter with the school management or submit their concerns via the CPF,” he suggested.
“In the interim, the EMPD Boksburg Precinct will visit the school to evaluate the situation and the alleged safety concerns; the traffic snarl-ups, as well as the proper traffic markings and signals.”
Ekurhuleni Metro spokesman Themba Gadebe, said the Waste Management Department carried out an inspection in the afternoon of March 19, and no vendors were found nor was there any litter on the pavement.
“A team will be sent out to monitor the situation and, if there is illegal dumping in the area, the Waste Management Department will be contacted to clean the pavement and install dustbins on the sidewalks if a need for bins is identified by the inspectors,” he added.
“Residents in the area are encouraged to contact the Environmental Health offices on 011 999 5407/5769 when there are vendors at the premises and when the sidewalks are dirty.”
