‘We Can’t Handle This Alone’: Fourways Intersection Overrun by Jobseekers and Trucks, Councillor Pleads for Help

Ward 93 Councillor Vino Reddy is calling for a permanent solution to the ongoing chaos on Sunrise Boulevard in Fourways, warning that temporary measures are no longer enough as jobseekers and trucks continue to overwhelm the busy intersection.

Accompanied by Fourways Review, Reddy took a drive along the stretch to see firsthand the scale of the problem. The scene was striking: domestic workers, electricians, handymen, and gardeners lined the roadside, raising placards and gesturing toward passing vehicles in hopes of securing employment.

“It’s like this most days,” Reddy said. “In the middle of the week, it’s a bit less, but it’s still busy. This intersection is particularly challenging. You have trucks waiting for jobs from builders, job seekers looking for work, domestic workers, and gardeners.”

A Recurring Problem

The issue is far from new. On 19 February, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and South African Police Service conducted an operation to clear the area. Yet, within days, many of the same individuals had returned.

Hans Jooste, from Future City Fourwaysa non-profit organisation dedicated to the areaconfirmed the operation took place. But despite enforcement efforts, the underlying dynamics remain unchanged.

Reddy emphasised that the problem cannot be solved by policing alone. “We can’t allow people to overtake urban and business areas like this. We’ve all recognised that it’s a problem, and, as with most things, we have to look to the municipality and government to provide solutions, because we cannot handle this alone.”

The Human Element

For the jobseekers gathered at the intersection, the roadside is not a choiceit’s a necessity. In a country with an official unemployment rate of over 30%, and youth unemployment far higher, informal labour markets like this have become a lifeline.

But for businesses, residents, and commuters, the congestion and safety risks are untenable. Trucks waiting for construction jobs add to the chaos, creating a volatile mix of heavy vehicles and pedestrians competing for space.

Silence From JMPD

Attempts to obtain comment from JMPD have been unsuccessful. Spokesperson Xolani Fihla promised to respond but, despite follow-ups, no comment has been received.

The Search for Solutions

Reddy’s call for a permanent solution reflects a broader challenge facing Johannesburg and other metros: how to manage informal economic activity in a way that respects the dignity of jobseekers while maintaining order and safety.

Temporary clearances offer short-term relief but address none of the underlying causes. Without alternative spaces for labour matching, or interventions that connect workers with employers more effectively, the cycle will continue.

For now, the jobseekers remain. The trucks remain. And the intersection remains a symbol of a city struggling to reconcile the urgent needs of its unemployed with the functional demands of urban life.