One week late, I have discovered that there are problems with the skycar at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. As many will know, I am a MMS junkie and happened to be in Durban the week that the skycar started operating causing me to be one of the first rush of skycar riders. I loved the experience and have promised myself to return to do the adventure walk and the bungi swing.
Stuck Skycar
Last week the skycar got stuck near the top of the arch causing a group to be stranded on the viewing platform. Apparently the staff were not equipped to deal with the ramifications as some people were distressed and even a little panicky. There was no shade, no water available and insufficient harnesses to aid the group on the walk down.
Involuntary Adventure Walk
The stranded group eventually had to do the adventure walk to get back down to ground level. The adventure walk is 550 steps down the arch and rather steep. I'm sure that it is called an adventure walk for a reason. One elderly lady collapsed on the walk and had to be aided by another stranded passenger. Another man had to carry his child who was unharnessed.
No Comment
Julie May Ellingsworth, head of Special Projects has given no comment on the problem and Municipal Manager, Mike Sutcliffe has only said that safety is the city's priority and that the skycar is safe.
Sixty Day Deadline
The skycar is no longer operating, however Durban municipality has been given 60 days to make sure that the skycar is safe after it got stuck.
"The municipality was issued a contravention notice and given 60 days to improve on the things highlighted during the inspection," SAPA quoted labour department chief inspector Thobile Lamati as saying.
He said that after the 60 days there will be another inspection and if the city hasn't complied they could be shut down.
I hope that they get it all worked out in time. It is a wonderful feature on a beautiful stadium with fantastic views of Durban.
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