For the residents of Benoni, the intersection at Atlas and Great North roads isn’t just an inconvenience. It’s a daily game of chance with their lives. For nearly a year, the traffic lights here have stood as silent, broken sentinels, and in that time, the community claims the crossroads has become a death trap.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is now sounding a desperate alarm, stating that at least 60 fatal crashes have occurred at this single intersection in the past year alone.
A Crisis in Plain Sight
The situation is a perfect storm of vandalism, government neglect, and sheer volume. The traffic lights, reportedly knocked out by theft and damage, have never received permanent repairs. What remains is a chaotic free-for-all at one of Ekurhuleni’s busiest junctions.
Evert Du Plessis, the DA’s Gauteng shadow MEC for roads and logistics, didn’t mince words after an oversight inspection. He described a scene of utter gridlock and danger. “Residents’ lives are endangered, and traffic congestion worsens,” he stated, highlighting that commuters are now forced to add up to 50 minutes to their daily travel time just to navigate the perilous crossing.
The human cost is measured in more than just minutes. Local businesses are suffering from delivery delays, and the emotional toll on residents who witness near-misses and actual collisions weekly is immense. Du Plessis cited recent reports of six collisions at the intersection, a number that likely only scratches the surface of the daily close calls.
The Blame Game and a Broken System
The DA has launched a pointed criticism at the ANC-led provincial government, which is responsible for maintaining these specific roads. Du Plessis labelled the ongoing neglect a clear sign that the government “does not prioritise the safety and well-being of residents.”
This isn’t a new complaint. The party asserts it has constantly raised the issue with both the City of Ekurhuleni and the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport, with little to no result. The broken lights have become a potent symbol of a broader breakdown in basic service delivery and accountability.
A Fight for Accountability
Frustrated by the silence, the DA is escalating its efforts. The party has launched a public petition to demand action and is preparing to take the fight directly to the provincial legislature.
Their next steps involve tabling formal questions to the MEC for Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, demanding a full explanation for the delay and the release of official accident data for the intersection. The matter will also be pushed to the portfolio committee for roads and logistics to force an immediate intervention.
For the people of Benoni, this political manoeuvring is a distant echo of their daily reality. Every day the lights remain dark is another day they risk their lives on a stretch of road that their government has seemingly forgotten.
{Source: Timeslive}
