Latest news with #Ward94
The Citizen
06-07-2025
- The Citizen
Hawkers on Winnie Mandela Drive cry abuse
Lindy Mothali, Blessing Mlambo, Margaret Seanego, and a group of informal traders operating along William Mandela Drive say they are fed up with being shifted from one location to another with no permanent solution in sight. The hawkers, who have been selling goods in the area for years, say they are now reaching a breaking point, after their recent removal by Fourways Mall management, Ward 94 councillor David Foley, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), and private security officers from the Fourways Improvement District. The traders were evicted from their trading spots on Winnie Mandela Drive and Fourways Boulevard, both of which are classified as provincial roads where hawking is prohibited. But the hawkers argue that this enforcement is unfair and lacks compassion. According to them, this is not the first time they've been removed. Many say they were previously displaced from other intersections before settling there. 'Before we came here, we were chased from other places too. Now, again, we are being told to move. We're tired of being moved like cattle,' said Mothali. 'Some of us were selling here before the mall was even built.' The hawkers claim they have documentation reflecting their attempts to formalise their trading. One such paper, seen by Fourways Review, lists exactly Winnie Mandela Drive as the road for Mothali to operate on legally. 'I got these papers from the health department, but [JMPD] say they are not correct papers,' she added. 'Another problem is that the authorities don't include us in their meetings. They come here already decided and that is not right. We also have rights, as hawkers, in the constitution. We also need a share of the pie. #Illegaltrading ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North @caxtonjoburgnorth Blessing Mlambo, as well a group of other informal traders who moved to the other side of Fourways Boulevard and Winnie Mandela Drive after being removed from their spots for a beatification project by Fourways Mall, says they are not willing to move just like that this time around. #Fourwaysmall Adding to their fear is the looming threat of yet another forced removal. According to Mothali, JMPD officers and security personnel warned them earlier this week that they will be cleared out again on July 7. 'It's going to be bad for us,' said Seanego, who supports her grandchildren through her trading. 'They take our stock when they come. That stock is my bread. My grandchildren depend on it because the grant money isn't enough.' Seanego says what hurts the most is that she buys her goods from Fourways Mall to sell to passing motorists and pedestrians. 'We support the mall. We buy from them. We contribute to their business. So, why can't they work with us, not against us?' The hawkers say they feel excluded from key conversations that affect their livelihoods. They've now formed a WhatsApp group to discuss their next steps and share information. 'All we need is a designated area where we can sell. We do not mind paying rent and taking care of the place, but [officials] don't know that, because we are not involved in the meetings where decisions are made about us. We also have rights. We just want to be heard and to work with the system, not be crushed by it,' said Mlambo. Foley confirmed that the recent action was lawful, saying that hawking is not permitted on provincial roads. He urged traders to engage the city through the proper channels for legal trading space. This is a developing story. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Relief for Broadacres as repairs begin to transform intersection
After months of frustration, damage, and delays, long-awaited repairs at the corner of Richard and Bushwillow roads are finally making visible progress, much to the relief of Broadacres residents and motorists. What was once described as a disastrous stretch of road is now beginning to show signs of recovery, thanks to ongoing efforts by Ward 94 councillor David Foley, who was constantly calling on Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) to fix it, with the support of Johannesburg Water (JW).According to Foley, the intersection has been a major concern for quite some time, plagued by deep potholes, suspected underground water issues, pipe leaks, and repeated delays to repairs due to the previous wet weather. Read more: JRA is fixing Ward 94s streets 'This intersection has been an absolute disaster for a while,' Foley said in an on-site update on July 1. 'The JRA team was back again, laying more tar. It's now a lot more drivable.' Previously, the road was in such poor condition that a truck got stuck in one of the potholes and had to be pulled out. Other vehicles weren't spared either, with one bumper even left behind as a reminder of how bad things got. 'With all the rain we were having, and the question of whether the leaks were due to groundwater or burst pipes, there were major delays,' said Foley. 'Tests had to be done to confirm the source. They confirmed that it was a pipe leak that JW needed to fix before JRA could repair the potholes, and they did.' Despite the setbacks, real progress is now being made. The second layer of tar has been applied in key areas, and the road is already much more navigable. 'There's still some curbing that needs to be done and one final layer of tar to go down. I've also asked the team to prioritise a few potholes on the Bushwillow side that are still making it tricky to enter the traffic circle.' Foley assured residents that the remaining work is being monitored closely and updates will continue as the final phases of the project wrap up. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Fourways traffic lights fail again, after just 2 weeks
Residents of Fourways are up in arms after traffic lights at key intersections on Winnie Mandela Drive – specifically Leslie Avenue and Uranium Road – have stopped working, a mere two weeks after their much-anticipated restoration. The traffic lights, which were revamped with advanced safety features after a long wait, ceased functioning due to alleged tampering by 'hobo cops', informal traffic directors, seeking to profit from motorists' tips. The situation has caused outrage and finger-pointing among residents in community groups, with Ward 94 councillor David Foley promising to investigate the matter further. Also read: JRA agrees to work with Gauteng transport department to fix broken traffic lights Foley has been a vocal advocate for resolving the traffic light chaos in Fourways, particularly since last year when most of the lights stopped working. He spearheaded the Adopt and Protect a Robot campaign, which gained approval from the Gauteng Roads and Transport Department. The campaign is a public-private partnership aimed at addressing issues with dysfunctional traffic lights and road infrastructure Foley also suggested the hand-over of management of the traffic lights to Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), which was successfully implemented earlier this year, but now, it seems he is fighting a losing battle. Also read: Ward 94 Cllr is still driving Fourways traffic lights issues 'The hobo cops take this as their main source of income. If the traffic lights are working, then it means they do not have any means of making money. That is why we keep on advising motorists to stop tipping them.' While many residents initially welcomed the functioning traffic lights, a sense of skepticism lingered, with most expecting the reprieve to be short-lived. Unfortunately, their concerns proved all too accurate. 'I don't know what's more frustrating, the lights not working, or the uncertainty of when they'll fail again,' said Karbo Eland, a motorist. Read more: City Power's turnaround time to fix streetlights explained Foley said he is not giving up his fight for working traffic lights in Fourways. 'We have installed cameras and we will investigative. My wish is for us to have a law that sends people who tamper with traffic lights to jail for at least 15 years. Maybe that will help. 'We are negotiating with businesses to adopt the traffic lights, so, when they steal the cables, at least they have back power from the business to keep working, until the cables are replaced.' Foley is pleading with motorists to stop tipping the informal traffic directors, so they do not have a reason to tamper with the traffic lights. 'Please refrain from tipping them. We are hoping that JRA is going to fix [the lights], because they are critical intersections.' Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
