Durban — It has been alleged that trucks have been blocking all access routes to the Bluff and Durban Harbour for at least three days, making it difficult for emergency services to respond effectively to call-outs.
On Wednesday, ALS Paramedics Medical Services director Garrith Jamieson said that they have been finding it extremely difficult to respond to emergencies in the Bluff and Durban Harbour area since Monday.
“Trucks are stacked all the way around the port, and this is causing major traffic jams. All entries towards the Bluff are obstructed by trucks occupying all the available lanes,” Jamieson said.
“This morning (Wednesday) ALS Paramedics battled to get to a scene where a security official was injured in a shooting. Paramedics responding to the incident had to drive into oncoming traffic to try and get to the scene. This places our staff as well as all road users at risk of injury.”
Jamieson said routes that are severely affected are:
• Umbilo arterial both directions from Bayhead Road to M7
• Sydney Road from Moore Road
• Bayhead Road from Umbilo Road
• Maydon Road from Moore Road (onramp to M4 Southern freeway jammed closed)
• M7 Edwin Swales from Wakesleigh Road to Bluff Road
• Umbilo Road from M7 to Rick Turner Road
He said many calls have been made to authorities who are trying to assist.
“We encourage a resolution as people’s lives are at risk if paramedics can’t get to them in time,” Jamieson said.
In response, eThekwini Municipality spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said that the municipality was doubling its efforts to minimise traffic congestion leading to the harbour.
Mayisela said that the municipality was aware of congestion on roads leading to the harbour.
“As a result, more Metro Police officers have been mobilised to all affected roads to manage traffic flow,” Mayisela said.
He urged road users and the public to alert the city if there is a traffic backup anywhere in eThekwini.
“Truck drivers blocking roads in residential areas are warned to refrain from doing so or risk facing the full might of the law. This includes having their vehicles, that obstruct other road users, impounded,” Mayisela said.
“To mitigate traffic congestion, the city is in constant communication with stakeholders in this regard, chief among them being Transnet.”
Earlier, ALS Paramedics and Emer-G-Med paramedics responded to a shooting incident on Bluff Road and Edwin Swales Drive on the Bluff just after 10am.
When paramedics arrived on the scene they found that SAPS were already in attendance.
“A security officer, a male believed to be in his forties, sustained moderate injuries and was stabilised on the scene by advanced life support paramedics before being transported to a nearby Durban hospital for the further treatment that he required,” Jamieson said.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Nqobile Gwala said it is alleged that a man was in his vehicle at the corner of Bluff Road and Edwin Swales Drive in Bluff when he was accosted by armed suspects.
“The suspects forced the victim out of his vehicle and jumped in. While attempting to leave the scene, they spotted security and fire in his direction. They robbed the security guard of his firearm and fled the scene in an unknown direction. The security guard sustained a gunshot wound on the shoulder and was taken to the hospital for medical attention,” Gwala said.
She said charges of attempted murder, carjacking and robbery were opened at Brighton Beach police station.
Daily News