Talk to us
pressoffice@nra.co.za
Am I safe on national roads?
Dear Sirs
I have noticed that there are a lot more incidents of people throwing stones at cars and trucks from bridges. I was also a victim of such an incident. As a truck driver I am concerned because I use the national routes regularly and we know a truck was stoned in De Doorns on the N1 where a driver lost his life. What is SANRAL doing to protect the road users?
– Mpho Nduli
Ed’s Note: SANRAL is sincerely concerned about the rise in these blatantly criminal acts. It is unacceptable that such crimes occur in our communities adjacent to the national road network. To enclose all pedestrian bridges that are SANRAL’s responsibility is not feasible. There are thousands of bridges within the national road network and it will result in substantial capital outlay to undertake such an exercise if rock throwing occurs more frequently.
What is required is stronger law enforcement in these areas. Screens over bridges are not the solution. Rocks can still be thrown from the adjacent embankment located on both sides of the bridge onto the freeway below. We urge you to approach law enforcement authorities and the Road Traffic Inspectorate. It must be emphasised that SANRAL is not a law enforcement agency and we too rely on the SAPS and Road Traffic Inspectorate to deal with the enforcement issues. We are participating in joint forums with law enforcement agencies to find a solution.
Now that’s a great road!
Dear Sirs
When something goes wrong, we notice it… and complain. Yet when things go right, we say nothing. Allow me to be different: travelling on the N1 from Bloemfontein to Cape Town was an absolute pleasure. OK, that stretch on the other side of Beaufort-West is loooong and boring and dangerous. But that’s not SANRAL’s fault. You built the N1 - and that’s a great road!
– Ed Petersen
Ed’s Note: Thank you, Ed! At SANRAL we are passionate, some may even
say geeky, about what we do: building world-class infrastructure.
Bored Panda
Back in the year dot, old wives around the world regarded boredom as a dangerous and subversive pastime. Where do you think the saying ‘the devil makes work for idle hands’ sprung from? Nowadays this Calvinistic approach to free time is increasingly being disproved as researchers tell us that being bored sparks creativity, encourages imagination and boosts productivity. But how should you while away your nothing-to-do and nowhere-to-go moments? On Bored Panda, of course.
This Lithuanian export is a viral publishing community that allows creative (and one assumes, at times, bored) people around the world to share their stories, artwork, designs and inventions. It offers the same, satisfying sense of time wasting that you enjoy paging through a trashy magazine at the hairdresser or the dentist.
It’s an excuse to switch off from outrage-inducing, super-worthy, prize-winning journalism and take refuge in the mundane. Catch up with a South African called Scribbly G who is creating offbeat and sometimes off-colour comics that will have you cringing, laughing and chuckling at the same time. Or learn about a 360-degree infinity pool designed to perch atop a 55-storey building in London and, without getting your feet wet, revel in comments like: “So London’s elite will be really be [sic] able to enjoy those 4.5 days of good outdoor swimming weather in style”.
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In this issue |
3 |
Old-fashioned funHave we forgotten the art of entertaining ourselves? Here’s how to have fun without breaking the bank. |
4 |
Transformation gathers momentumStrategic agreements with big business will give blackowned emerging enterprises a much-needed leg up. |
7 |
Where the past springs to lifeFrom Jozi’s jails and genes, to Cape Town’s works of art and acts of shame, a day exploring museums will open your eyes to South Africa’s complex history. |
11 |
Books for the long roadWords that will caress you, haunt you and inspire you. |
12 |
Full-on tummy tuck for Huguenot TunnelBrace yourself for a bigger, bolder and safer Huguenot Tunnel as work gets underway to upgrade and maintain this grand old dame. |
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Healthy body, healthy mind, healthy spiritWellness speaks to a holistic integration of physical, mental and spiritual well-being, and now it’s becoming a buzz word for businesses. |
Flick between DIY and travel interludes, parenting and animal funnies or dip into Featured, Trending and Latest posts as you meander through cyberspace, adding yet another click to Bored Panda’s roughly 26.5 million visits a month. As the likes of Instagram, Facebook and Twitter continue to punt this largely inoffensive and wholesome content, rest assured that Bored Panda will keep coming up with the goods – one crazy cat video at a time.
