Durban – With all reads leading to the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium for the much-anticipated ceremony of King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, eThekwini municipality has advised on road closure for Saturday.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will hand over the certificate of recognition to King Misizulu as the 9th monarch of the Zulu nation.
Kings and heads of state from various countries will grace the occasion while throngs of the Zulu nation and ordinary guest will be in attendance.
Buses have been hired to ferry thousands of people from all walks of life and are expected to converge at the vicinity of the 65 000-seater Moses Mabhida Stadium located in the northern parts of the Durban business district.
The traffic is expected to pick up in the early hours as the event is set to start at 9pm.
With over 5 000 international and local dignitaries there will be high traffic police visibility around the Durban CBD and some roads will be closed.
To manage congestion in the vicinity of the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, eThekwini municipality has advised that some roads will be closed.
According to the municipality the following traffic management measures will be implemented from 4am to 6pm on Saturday.
• Masabalala Yengwa Avenue south bound will be closed at Simiso Nkwanyana Road with traffic directed to proceed west on Simiso Nkwanyana Road.
• Umngeni Road south bound will be closed from Simiso Nkwanyana Road while traffic travelling on Umngeni Road from the north will be diverted west on Simiso Nkwanyana Road to join Umngeni Road at Balance Road.
• Isaiah Ntshangase from Umngeni Road will be closed. Controlled access will apply.
• No traffic will be allowed on Isaiah Ntshangase from Umngeni Road to Masabalala Yengwa Avenue. Isaiah Ntshangase Road will only be open from the M4 up to the gate of the Golf Country Club and Natal Mounted Rifle Base.
After this point, no traffic will be allowed to travel west on Isaiah Ntshangase. Vehicles going to the above-mentioned places will enter and exit at M4.
• Battery Beach Road at Snell Parade will be closed. Controlled access will be applicable.
• All Umngeni north bound traffic will remain uninterrupted as the north bound lanes will be open.
• Traffic travelling east on Simiso Nkwanyana Road will be directed north joining Masabalala Yengwa Avenue.
• Vehicles travelling north of Masabalala Yengwa Avenue will exit at the Sandile Thusi Road offramp. Traffic will turn right on Sandile Thusi Road, drive in an easterly direction and join the M4 (Ruth First Highway) or travel towards the beach. At this same intersection, traffic will be allowed to travel west on Sandile Thusi Road towards Umngeni Road as the uMngeni north bound will remain open. At this intersection, no traffic will be allowed to go towards the Moses Mabhida Stadium as the road will be closed.
PARKING
All buses will be parked at the Natal Command site which is located south of Suncoast Casino. This area is bound by Sandile Thusi Road, Snell Parade, and the M 4(Ruth First) south bound.
Law enforcement officers and marshals will be available to assist with parking and directing of traffic.
All minibuses will be parked from Sunkist (Bike and Bean) to Blue Lagoon.
Pedestrians going into the stadium will use the underpass located at the north side of Suncoast directly opposite the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
The only access for cars to park at the Kings Park Stadium outer fields is through Jacko Jackson Drive which is on Simiso Nkwanyana Road between Masabalala Yengwa Avenue and Umngeni Road.
Badminton Courts located at 33 Cobham Road have been allocated for overflow parking.
Motorists are urged to be patient when driving in the vicinity of the stadium. Those not going to the royal event are urged to avoid the area around Moses Mabhida Stadium and to use alternate routes.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE