Cape Town's ‘Hell Run’ tests political tolerance

THE ‘Hell Run’ - the name by which a 20km stretch of the N2 highway has become known after a series of deadly assaults on motorists on the road.

- RUDI BUYS

Most recently, this past Wednesday at midday, a gunman standing in the way of oncoming traffic held up motorists with a semiautomatic rifle while two accomplices waited at the side of the road. It is the latest of an increasing number of incidents on the highway and roads around Cape Town International Airport in the past months, including the tragic death of a retired teacher, Karin van Aardt.Most incident reports describe attacks with stones or bricks hurled from pedestrian bridges or roadside areas, shattering vehicle windows. Reports also show that assailants place stone slabs and road spikes in the way to immobilise vehicles. Drivers and passengers are then left vulnerable to be robbed or assaulted. The Cape Town City Council deployed additional law enforcement as a measure to increase security and prevent and respond to incidents. Attacks on commuters are, however, not the only or even the biggest problem on this stretch of the highway. By far the most cases, reportedly up to 85%, are not crime-related but vehicles stranded due to mechanical issues and in need of roadside assistance, and sadly, also fatal traffic accidents with pedestrians.