Heavy traffic in and around Mbombela amid ANC birthday celebrations

With the ANC’s 112th birthday celebrations at the Mbombela Stadium in full swing, Mbombela residents and visitors can expect masses of traffic in and around the city between today, January 13, and tomorrow.

Traffic is reportedly gridlocked on the N4 and R37 heading toward the stadium, and scores of vehicles have also been reported on the R40, resulting in slow-moving traffic.

Local security companies are on high alert this weekend, and there is a high police and traffic department presence around the stadium precinct.

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Divergent Ops’ Juandré Rautenbach has urged residents to remain calm on the roads when travelling, but has also called on people to try and avoid the areas around the stadium and the R40/R37 ring road, and the R40 towards Riverside.

Nelspruit Community Policing Forum’s John Meintjes, who is also a member of ACS Spartan, urged residents to avoid travelling this weekend as far as possible and to visit nearby shops or garages if they need something.

He said there is a strong police presence across Mbombela at the moment.

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Hi-Tech’s Frank Swanepoel said the Lowveld Security Joint Operation Command (JOC) is on standby this weekend, as well as other local security companies. He said there have been no incidents reported as yet, but called on residents to remain vigilant.

Securicon Lowveld’s Callum mac Pherson said that due to the celebrations, some streets have also reported short-term large gatherings.

“This will be the norm for the weekend and will inconvenience many residents of our town. Not much can be done about it, and it could also mean a lot of traffic congestion and possibly loud parties.”

He asked members of local WhatsApp groups to avoid multiple messages of complaints regarding this unavoidable situation, “as it makes monitoring hundreds of groups for security emergencies more difficult than usual.”

The public has thus been urged to use their panic buttons and call their security service provider should there be an emergency.

Meanwhile, the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison’s spokesperson, Moeti Mmusi, has made a clarion call to those making their way to Mbombela for the celebrations to obey the rules.

“They should not drive in front of oncoming traffic or cause congestion. They are urged to be patient and obey the directives of our law enforcement officers who are hard at work this weekend. Responsible driving is what the authorities are appealing for at this stage,” said Mmusi.

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The department’s MEC, Vusi Shongwe, had said in a previous statement earlier this week that reports suggest most places of accommodation are fully booked for the celebrations.

The celebrations at the stadium today will include an address by the party’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, where he is expected to speak about the ongoing load-shedding, the spate of gender-based violence, crime, corruption and unemployment.

This province is hosting this particular event for the second time.

Among the dignitaries expected to attend this annual event are former deputy president David Mabuza, Dr Mathews Phosa and many more.