As we prepare for the Easter Holidays where most people will be joining their families and loved ones or heading to different directions for leisure and religious pilgrimage, law enforcers will be hard at work to ensure that all people arrive safely at their destinations.
Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison Pat Ngomane, will be leading the road safety campaign next Tuesday in Mbombela, says the law enforcers together with the police and other stakeholders are ready for the Easter holidays.
The MEC has thus called on law enforcement officers to act tougher on those who will be found to be breaking the rules, driving recklessly and negligently. He has also pleaded with the officers to show no mercy towards drunk drivers, speedsters and those whose vehicles will be found overloaded or unroadworthy.
During these holidays, operations will focus on identified priority roads such as the N4, N12, R573 (Moloto Road), N17, N2, R38, N11 and R40. The roads have contributed to most crashes and fatalities experienced during the past holidays.
The department will conduct roadblocks, rest stops, random stop searches, road safety awareness campaigns, and 24/7 concerted 30km block patrols on identified major routes. Attention will be paid to roadworthiness of vehicles, driver fitness, drinking and driving, and overloading especially of vehicles travelling to the various ports of entry.
Apart from roadside checks that will take place mostly during the day, liquor outlets will also be monitored to ensure compliance because of the expected increase in drinking and driving incidents and vulnerable pedestrians. The traffic officers are also expected to deal with public drinking throughout the province.
The MEC has urged bus and taxi owners to play their part ensuring that their vehicles are in good condition and drivers are fit to drive, and that they do not overload as this poses a serious threat to the well-being of passengers.
Ngomane has further indicated that those who will be speeding excessively will be arrested immediately. He says this is done to prevent unnecessary crashes and save more lives on the road.
As part strengthening the operations, the department’s Senior Managers will be deployed as project managers. This is done to also give moral support to law enforcers who will be working throughout the holidays. The department will further work with various municipalities across the province as part intensifying the operations.
“With all plans in place, we are calling on community and other road users to assist government by reporting reckless driving so that action is taken against the culprits. We all have a role to play in ensuring safer roads now and beyond the Easter Holidays,” says Ngomane.
Meanwhile MEC Ngomane says he is pleased with the arrests of 22 suspects linked to drinking and driving. 13 of the suspects were nabbed in Kriel near Emalahleni while nine people were caught at Tonga over the weekend. All suspects have appeared in Tonga and Kriel Magistrate courts and they have each been granted bail R1500.
Six speedsters were brought to book. All speedsters on three of the culprits were caught at Schoemanskloof. One person was driving at 197 km/h in a 120 km/h zone on that same spot another vehicle was spotted driving at 172 km/h and another driver at a speed of 159km/h.
They all appeared in Ngodwana Magistrate Court. Three more speedsters were also arrested on N4 Toll Road near Alkmaar. Their vehicles were moving at 191 km/h and 163 km/h in a 120km/h zone. One was caught driving at 174 km/h in a 120 km/h zone. They have appeared in Nelspruit Magistrate Court today.
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Enquiries: Joseph Mabuza
Tel: 013 766 1579
Mobile: 082 678 1450
E-mail: emabuza@mpg.gov.za