Cape Town – A Manenberg family is in mourning after a 50-year-old mother of four was tragically killed on Monday night when a taxi ploughed into her as she crossed Duinefontein Road. The incident has reignited calls for improved traffic calming measures on the notorious stretch of road, which residents say has become a death trap.
The scene on the corners of Duinefontein Road and Jordaan Street was filled with grief as the devastated family of Louise Diedericks gathered. Her daughter, Laeeqah Swartz, 29, recounted the moment they received the devastating news.
An emotional Laeeqah shared: "My mom has four children and three grandchildren and was on her way home from work when the accident happened. I was at home and when we heard I ran to the scene with my friends, but they had already covered her face."
According to witnesses, the taxi driver skipped a red traffic light and struck Diedericks as she was crossing the road. "On the scene the people told us that the driver jumped a red robot and hit her as she was crossing. She was still standing in the yellow lane and the taxi crashed right into her," Laeeqah explained. "Because of the extent of her injuries she passed away. The driver was taken away by the police."
Laeeqah expressed the family's shock and heartbreak at the sudden loss. "My mom was a loving person and we are still in shock that she is no longer with us. She worked at Mimos in Gatesville and was a very dedicated mother who worked every day for her family. We are going to miss her."
Police spokesperson Captain Ian Bennett confirmed the incident, stating: "We can confirm that a 50-year-old woman was declared deceased on the scene." He added that "A 31-year-old taxi driver will appear on charges of culpable homicide and reckless and negligent driving at Athlone Magistrates Court on Wednesday."
Duinefontein Road: A Known Danger Zone
The tragic death of Louise Diedericks has brought renewed focus on the dangers of Duinefontein Road, with residents raising concerns about speeding and reckless driving. Laeeqah Swartz said many residents have concerns about the speeds at which people travel along Duinefontein Road. She adds: "They drive like padvarke and everyone says so." (Padvarke is an Afrikaans term meaning reckless drivers.)
Vernon Visagie of the Manenberg Community Police Forum (CPF) echoed these concerns, calling for an urgent investigation into possible traffic calming measures along the road. "The problem with Duinefontein Road is that it is a main arterial which runs right through Manenberg and Heideveld and the speeds that people travel is very concerning," Visagie stated.
He highlighted the high number of accidents and fatalities that have occurred on the road, particularly due to motorists ignoring red traffic lights, especially taxis. "So many deaths have been recorded on that road as motorists just ignore red lights, especially the taxis," Visagie said.
Calls for Action: Footbridges and Traffic Calming
The CPF has been advocating for improved safety measures on Duinefontein Road for some time, particularly given the large number of school children who use the road to access schools and other facilities. "We have major concerns about the ongoing issues especially as many scholars use Duinefontein Road to access schools and other facilities," Visagie explained.
Past requests for traffic calming measures, such as speed humps, have been rejected, with authorities citing concerns about their suitability for a main arterial road. "It is central to the taxi route and the last time we asked for traffic calming measures they said speed humps were not possible," Visagie said.
As an alternative, the CPF has proposed the construction of a footbridge to allow pedestrians to cross the road safely. "We have proposed a footbridge and we don’t know if that will be viable or if it will solve the problem but we do know something must be done before more lives are lost," Visagie emphasised.
